A/HRC/33/22
international law, and called for leaving no one behind and for more systematic monitoring
and data collection to help measure progress towards achieving the goals. Global agreement
on the Agenda therefore represents an important opportunity to intensify efforts to
strengthen universal birth registration and vital statistics development. It will support global
efforts in this regard primarily on the basis of target 16.9, in which Governments committed
to “by 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration”, as well as proposed
indicator 17.19.2 under Goal 17 on partnerships, to monitor the proportion of countries
having achieved 100 per cent birth registration and 80 per cent death registration.22
29.
Global data reflect the fact that, while it is possible to bring about substantial overall
progress, the remaining unregistered children are frequently those who are most vulnerable
and marginalized.23 A focus on ensuring that no child is left behind, through an emphasis on
targeted measures to ensure universal registration of all children, will therefore be crucial to
the achievement of target 16.9.
30.
The development of comprehensive civil registration systems to gather accurate,
timely, disaggregated data is vital to inform decision-making, programming and planning,
and therefore to the overall implementation of the 2030 Agenda. Well-functioning civil
registration systems are essential to bring about accountability for the implementation of
the 2030 Agenda, as they can provide the most reliable basis for monitoring multiple
Sustainable Development Goal targets. Disaggregated, reliable vital statistics are also
crucial to cast light on disparities in outcomes for specific groups, and can thereby support
greater equity and targeting of programmes to ensure that no one is left behind.
31.
A number of Sustainable Development Goal targets are particularly dependent on
birth registration or the existence of well-functioning civil registration and vital statistics
systems. Birth registration and vital statistics are fundamental to the delivery and
monitoring of targets under Goal 16, on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies,
including to significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
(target 16.1); to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and violence against and torture of
children (target 16.2); to develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions
(target 16.6); and to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decisionmaking (target 16.7). They are also essential in relation to the implementation and
monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal targets reflecting economic, social and
cultural rights. For example, reliable, disaggregated data on mortality and causes of death
are necessary to monitor progress towards achieving health-related targets under Goal 3
(maternal and child mortality, addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases,
and universal health coverage). The implementation of targets under Goal 1, on ending
poverty, and Goal 4, on inclusive and equitable education, is dependent on birth registration
in countries where birth certificates and associated identity documents are needed to access
public services and benefits.
32.
The fulfilment of universal birth registration is further relevant to preventing and
reducing risks of statelessness, human trafficking, child and early marriage, and child
labour (Goal 5, on gender equality; Goal 8, on decent work and economic growth; and
Goal 16), to support the protection and rights of refugees and others affected by disasters,
including by documenting links to country of origin, and through provision of information
crucial to humanitarian planning and disaster management and response (Goal 11, on cities
and human settlements).
22
23
10
See General Assembly resolution 70/1.
UNICEF, Annual Results Report 2015.
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