Monitoring progress towards national and internationally-agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals, requires reliable data on vital events. Most Asia-Pacific countries, however, still lack adequate data on births, deaths and causes-of-death despite increased global recognition of the importance of vital statistics. ESCAP Statistics Division and the World Health Organization, in partnership with the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, jointly organized a Regional Forum on the Improvement of Vital Statistics and Civil Registration in Asia-Pacific from 23 to 25 June 2010 in Bangkok. The forum's main objectives were: a) to establish a common understanding among national statisticians, registrars-general and health experts on the main challenges and issues in generating reliable vital statistics; b) arrive at a consensus on key priorities and strategies for improving vital statistics; and c) map out the main components of a regional programme to improve vital statistics in Asia and the Pacific.

Outcome Statement of the Regional Forum on the Improvement of Vital Statistics and Civil Registration in Asia & the Pacific

Report of the Forum

0.2. Keynote Address: The Importance of Vital Statistics - Thailand experiences

1.1. Improving Vital Statistics in the Asia-Pacific Region: Key Challenges

1.2. Universal Birth Registration in Asia

1.3. Overview of the results from the Rapid Assessment of vital statistics and civil registration in Asia-Pacific

1.4. Country experience: Philippines

3.1. Developing a business case for improving civil registration and health & vital statistics systems - a six step approach

4.1. Guidance Tool for improving vital statistics

4.2. Tools and resources to improve vital statistics

4.3. Common problems with mortality data: Analytical Steps to maximise the benefit of vital statistics

5.1. Framework for a regional programme for improving vital statistics & civil registration - Draft proposal