A recent multi-staged project has revealed that delays in birth registration in Fiji frequently exceed 600 days on average. This alarming statistic is based on an analysis of over 158,000 birth registration records, showing significant inconsistencies in registration timeliness among different registry offices across the country.
The findings indicate that the most pronounced registration delays are experienced by iTaukei children, single mothers, and younger mothers. These trends highlight the complex interplay of gender, social, and geographic barriers that impede access to timely birth registration. The report emphasizes the necessity for targeted strategies that tackle these challenges, particularly focusing on the intersections of gender and location that negatively affect registration outcomes.
Additionally, the project identified delays in the issuance or loss of Notification of Birth forms from health facilities as a major contributor to late registrations. This situation leads to added costs and bureaucratic burdens for parents, as many families are required to revisit health facilities multiple times to obtain replacement documents, resulting in further delays and frustration.
It was noted that families in remote and outer island communities face limited connectivity and high travel costs, which hinder their access to registration services. As a result, some families resort to presenting unofficial documents, such as baptism cards in Lakeba, for school admissions when they lack birth certificates.
Universal and timely birth registration is recognized as a fundamental human right and plays a critical role in good governance. In Fiji, it ensures that each citizen’s legal identity is secured while providing access to essential services like education, healthcare, and social protection. Despite ongoing progress, the analysis of national Civil Registration and Vital Statistics continues to unveil persistent gender and geographic inequality in timely birth registration, particularly affecting rural, maritime, and socio-economically disadvantaged communities.
The initiative was conducted by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the Fiji Ministry of Justice, the Births, Deaths and Marriages Office, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, and the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs. Their efforts were bolstered by Vital Strategies under the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative Global Grants Programme, signifying a joint commitment to address these substantial gender inequities in birth registration within the country.