This animated video explains why well-functioning civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems are important for achieving gender equality. Recording vital life events such as birth, marriage, divorce, and death is imperative to protecting the rights of all people and ensuring they can participate fully in society. Yet it is estimated that 1 billion people worldwide have no proof of legal identity due to weak CRVS systems. A disproportionate amount of these people are women and girls.  

Developed by Data2X and the Centre of Excellence for CRVS Systems, this video aims to raise awareness of the power of CRVS systems for unlocking gender equality. Strong CRVS systems are essential for delivering on the Beijing Platform and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Centre of Excellence for CRVS Systems recognizes the value of legal identity documents for women’s empowerment, and for facilitating access to social benefits and protections. It is also recognized that achieving gender equality mandates reliable, real-time data. Vital statistics data is disaggregated by sex, geographic location, and other locally relevant characteristics to guide development policies and programs. CRVS systems are particularly important for meeting the needs of vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.