title: Towards universal civil registration and vital statistics systems: the time is now.
abstract: The health and development challenges of the coming decades cannot be tackled effectively without reliable data for births, deaths, and causes of death, which only a comprehensive civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system can deliver. Alternative methods such as surveys, censuses, or surveillance are not adequate substitutes from a statistical perspective, and do not provide individuals with the legal documentation they need to benefit from services and participate fully in a modern society. Research is needed to generate and disseminate evidence about which CRVS strategies work best in which contexts and to ensure that the potential benefits of innovation are successfully scaled up, and that possible pitfalls are avoided. Research findings need to be compiled and made readily accessible to users for policy making, programming, and practice. Modernisation of CRVS systems necessitates new, broad-based national and international coalitions. The global architecture for CRVS, so far dominated by UN agencies, should extend to include bilateral donors, funds, foundations, non-governmental organisations, the private sector, academic institutions, and civil society. This change is essential to ensure that further development of CRVS systems is inclusive, participatory, multisectoral, and has a strong evidence base.
authors.affiliation: CAZ Consulting, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: abouzahr.carla@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: AbouZahr
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Savigny
authors.affiliation: LM Consulting, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: Lene
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.affiliation: The Union North America, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Philip W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Setel
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Public Health, Mexico City, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.affiliation: School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Alan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D012042:Registries; D014798:Vital Statistics