THE Fiji Bureau of Statistics has proposed the establishment of Divisional Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) committees to address persistent delays and gender inequities in birth registration across Fiji.
The recommendation follows a national review led by the bureau and key government agencies, supported by Vital Strategies through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative.
An analysis of 158,153 birth registration records from 2015 to 2024 found wide variations in registration timelines across registry offices.
Ten offices across all four divisions recorded average delays of more than 600 days between birth and registration, with the longest delays affecting iTaukei children, single mothers, and younger mothers.
The policy brief identified weak inter-agency coordination, delayed or missing Notification of Birth forms and high travel costs in rural and maritime areas as key contributors to late registration.
In some under island communities, families are reportedly relying on unofficial documents such as baptism cards for school enrolment due to the absence of birth certificates.
The proposed Divisional CRVS committees will provide a formal mechanism to improve coordination between agencies, align outreach schedules, and monitor registration performance at divisional level.
The proposed committees will be supported by dedicated funding and work with community leaders and service providers to promote inclusive and timely registration.
The Fiji Bureau of Statistics states the stronger coordination and sustained investment are critical to ensuring every child in Fiji is registered on time, regardless of gender or location.
