Last March 4-6, 2025, Child Rights Coalition Asia, in collaboration with United Nations ESCAP, World Vision International, Plan International, and UNICEF, hosted Children and Youth in the Picture: Young People’s Forum for the Third Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) in Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Conference Center in Bangkok, Thailand. 

This three-day event that amplified the call to #GetEveryoneInThePicture, provided a safe and inclusive platform for children and youth representatives from across the region to share key insights from their national consultations on civil registration and vital statistics.

Key Discussions and Insights from Children and Youth: 

• Corruption in Civil Registration: The children and youth highlighted the importance of accountability for inefficiencies and misconduct in civil registration and demanded for fair and efficient service. They asserted that “Officials should be accountable. And corruption, like bribes for service, must stop.” They also called for a process where the people can communicate feedback to their government about these issues. 

• Inclusion: Participants explored policy reforms that promote respect and inclusivity in civil registration, which include training for staff to eliminate discrimination based on gender, religion, economic status, or culture. They also highlighted the need for governments to “ensure inclusive civil registration by considering fragile contexts like migration, statelessness, conflict, polygamy, and abandonment”. 

• Expense and Access: A common point raised is that high fees and lack of access hinders registration especially for marginalized groups. This can be addressed by setting up more local facilities and mobile registration units, expanding digital registration platforms, and waiving fees for underprivileged communities. 

• Digitalization of Registration: Digital systems can make registration faster, easier, and more accurate. The participants discussed how online portals and biometric verification can help increase accessibility, reduce costs and effort – encouraging birth, marriage, and death registration. However, they did not discount the importance of safeguarding this data and preventing misuse. 

• Awareness and Education: Governments, NGOs, and INGOs have an important role in increasing awareness about children’s right to CRVS. Both children and youth groups highlight the need for capacity building through community education, consultations, localized and visually accessible IEC materials, and digital campaigns. 

• • Regulatory Implications: The children and youth highlighted that government policies should be reviewed and reformed to “align laws, improve implementation, and strengthen civil registration and vital statistics systems to meet community needs and human rights”. 

• Social Implications: Other than the regulatory implications, they also indicated that governments should study the potential negative effects of registration, including problems with inheritance, pension, and social exclusion. Governments, community leaders, religious leaders, CSOs, schools, and universities should also raise awareness about the different situations of marriages.

Looking Ahead: Working Together for A Future Where Everyone is Seen, Heard, and Counted

CRC Asia remains committed to empowering children to actively engage with governments, ensuring their voices are heard on issues that impact their rights, including their right to CRVS. Their message is clear—children and youth are calling on governments, civil society, and their peers to work together to strengthen CRVS systems across the Asia-Pacific region. Their recommendations will be presented at the Third Ministerial Conference on CRVS this June 23-26. 

This forum brought together children, youth, and civil society organizations in a shared mission—to learn from each other, develop strategies, and strengthen efforts to #GetEveryoneInThePicture.

Here’s an excerpt from a powerful poem read by one of the children during their presentation of recommendations:

“Bridge the gap, break the silence, register now

Raise awareness, secure futures, register now

Transform communities, build equality, register now

Empower marginalized communities, promote equal opportunity, register now.”