Honourable Chair,
Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,
I am pleased to address the closing session of the Second Ministerial Conference on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics in Asia and the Pacific.
Over the last four days, your perspectives and engagements have identified the challenges and necessary progress required towards our shared regional vision of universal and responsive civil registration and vital statistics systems in Asia and the Pacific by 2024.
The Ministerial Declaration building a more resilient future with inclusive civil registration and vital statistics shows the continued commitments of our region to achieving universal civil registration of births, deaths and other civic events.
The Ministerial Declaration includes key areas of action that will help us progress towards our shared regional vision that will shape up the second half of the Decade.
Although progress needs to be accelerated, your efforts since the beginning of the Decade have already changed many lives for the better.
I also welcome that the Ministerial Declaration calls upon development partners to maintain or expand assistance to our member States in a coordinated manner.
I recognise that member States would like us to accord priority to supporting members and associate members in the implementation of the Ministerial Declaration and the Regional Action Framework on CRVS within the context of other internationally agreed development goals and COVID-19 recovery.
I am equally delighted to note that there is a good momentum to work towards developing a resilient health care system, including the provision of essential health services to the people in vulnerable situations.
Excellencies, Distinguished delegates,
In conclusion, I wish to first express deep appreciation to the statements of children and youth and civil society organizations that provided a good reminder of the critical importance of universal civil registration to the well-being of all people in the region.
Building a more resilient future is critical for all of us in the second half of the Asia and Pacific Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade.
My sincere appreciation goes to the Bureau and officials of the ministerial segment of the Conference for moderating today’s discussions and making sure this Conference provides clear guidance.
I would also like to extend my thanks and appreciation to the Bureau and officials of the senior officials’ segment. They ably steered the discussions during the first three days of the Conference.
I am confident that the impact of this Conference will resonate across Asia and the Pacific.
ESCAP, along with the 12 other organizers of the Ministerial Conference and our development partners, is committed to supporting the Commission's members and associate members in their endeavour to improve their civil registration and vital statistics systems.
By working together under the Regional Action Framework for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, we can realise our shared vision.
Thank you very much.
