Other Legal Resources for CRVS

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GHAI is an implementing partner of the Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative. The GHAI D4H program includes a team of international lawyers providing technical assistance to governments and partners to strengthen CRVS legal frameworks.  

The analysis contained in this CRVSlaws.org database is based on United Nations guidelines and standards. This page provides links to the relevant UN documents along with additional technical legal resources to assist practitioners with analysis research and legislative drafting. This page is regularly updated as additional resources are published. 

International CRVS Legal Guidelines and Frameworks

UNGOLF
UN Guidelines on the Legislative Framework for Civil Registration, Vital Statistics and Identity Management 2023
UNDESA
Principles and Recommendations for a Vital Statistics System 2014
WHO
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) 11th Revision
UNHRCB
UN Human Rights Council, Birth registration and the right of everyone to recognition everywhere as a person before the law 2023

Regional CRVS Legal Guidelines and Frameworks

Pacific Community
Best Practice Guidelines and Examples of Legislation for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in the Pacific 2019
Pacific Community
Model Legislation for CRVS
UNICEF
Civil Registration in Humanitarian Contexts: Recommendations and Operational Guidelines for African Union Member States.
UNICEF
Strategic Programme Framework for Strengthening Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Eastern and Southern Africa. Nairobi: UNICEF ESARO, May 2025.

GHAI D4H Resources

Issue Briefs

International Obligations on Civil Registration
Guidance on Civil Registration, Citizenship Determination and Statelessness
Benefits of Civil Registration booklet
Overview of GHAI CRVS Legal Technical Assistance
Female death registration: To save women and girl’s lives, we have to count their deaths
Stillbirth Registration: Counting Tragedies to Save Lives
Improving Civil Registration, Vital Statistics and Identity Systems through Legal Review and Reform
Legal Gender Recognition in Civil Registration Systems and Population Statistics

Papers and Publications

When death tears you apart: the omission of transgender identities in Colombian death certificates. International Journal of Transgender Health
Forthcoming
Documenting the Undocumented: Mobile Birth Registration as a Pathway to Legal Identity. UNESCAP 2026.
Forthcoming
Liberté, Égalité, Interoperabilité: Gender Identity and CR, VS, and ID. UNESCAP 2026.