Suva, Fiji – For the first time in 50 years, Fiji is reviewing the laws that govern the recording of births, deaths, marriages and other life events. The reform aims to modernise outdated systems, strengthen rights and identity, and make sure every Fijian counts.
Fiji has set out on an in-depth review of its civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) laws, the first systematic examination of the legislation since 1975, as a part of a year-long project supported by the Pacific Community (SPC) and Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Data for Health Initiative Global Grants Program.
With 71% of births and 88% of deaths currently recorded in Fiji, the review aims to take the country’s civil registration legal settings from the typewriter to tablet era, according to Ms Selina Kuruleca, Permanent Secretary with Fiji’s Ministry of Justice.
She says that the current law’s provisions which require paper forms and signatures in pen, with little recognition of the need for information flows between health, registry, and statistics agencies, often create barriers for both government and citizens alike.
“Civil registration is the foundation of legal identity, rights, and access to everyday services. From opening a bank account to enrolling a child in school, casting a vote, or applying for a passport—everything starts with having the right documents.
“At a national level, the information recorded when someone dies gives us a clearer picture of causes of death, which helps shape health policy and education planning. With SPC’s support, the review will show us what changes we need to bring Fiji’s civil registration into the modern era.”
Why it matters: rights, identity and inclusion
Mr Jeff Montgomery, CRVS specialist with SPC’s Statistics for Development Division and formerly New Zealand’s Registrar General, said civil registration systems affect all people, at every stage of life, speaking on the importance of getting this review right.
“These processes touch everyone, from welcoming a newborn to saying goodbye to a loved one—civil registration needs to be easy to access, easy to use, and in line with citizens’ expectations.”
He added that a modern framework also has to inspire trust, striking the right balance when it comes to sharing information. “Governments need the data to plan services and make decisions, but it’s just as important that people’s sensitive information is protected and only shared appropriately.”
Mr Montgomery noted that reviews like these also take into account how society has changed in the intervening decades. “International guidance makes it clear that laws should reflect today’s realities around family life. That can have very practical implications, everything from how names are recorded to recognising different family structures.”
Building Pacific expertise
Two Pacific lawyers, Mrs Lakshika Fernando (Asia Pacific Lawyers and Consultants) and Mrs Teresa Lifuka-Drecala (Future Partners Consultancy), are leading the technical review after specialised training with the Global Health Advocacy Incubator in Washington, D.C. This marks a significant step in building regional capacity to carry out such reforms, which have often required external consultants from outside the Pacific.
“Until now, Pacific countries had to rely on external legal expertise,” explains Permanent Secretary Ms Kuruleca.
“But there is a lot of potential, skills and competency in Fiji and the Pacific,” she said. “So, the opportunity to set the terms of reference and recruit from within the Pacific is an added bonus to capacity-building and strengthening our own systems from within.
“By training Pacific lawyers in this highly specialised area, we’re ensuring the region has its own capacity to modernise CRVS systems in line with international best practice.”
Collaboration and community engagement
The work is being carried out as a partnership, with the Fiji Ministry of Justice requesting SPC’s support in preparing a funding proposal to Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Global Grants Program and in coordinating technical assistance.
SPC’s Statistics for Development Division serves as a centre of excellence in CRVS systems, while the Global Grants Program provides financial and technical support to low- and middle-income countries to improve systems that collect, analyse and use data for public-health decision-making.
An inception report and work plan have already been completed, providing a roadmap for the 12-month legislative review. The next step was a two-day consultation workshop in Suva which brought together around 40 participants from across government and civil society, including women’s rights organisations, faith-based groups, children’s advocates and LGBTQ+ organisations.
“This isn’t a technical exercise removed from our people,” said Permanent Secretary Ms Kuruleca. “It’s about listening to communities, understanding their realities, and ensuring that our civil registration laws serve all Fijians.”
Next steps
The legal analysis will run through to early 2026, after which recommendations will be handed to Fiji’s Government. From there, it will be up to Fiji’s leaders and democratic institutions to decide which reforms, if any, are enacted into law.
For SPC’s Statistics for Development Division, the initiative also highlights the importance of its new Suva office as a regional hub—helping Pacific governments access international resources while building skills and solutions closer to home. The Division opened its Suva base in early 2025, expanding its partnerships and outreach in the region.