Thousands of children in Fiji are facing significant delays in birth registration, as recent data from the Fiji Bureau of Statistics reveals that many registrations are occurring well beyond the legally mandated timeframe. An analysis of 158,153 birth registrations for children born between 2015 and 2024 showed that only 71.5 percent were registered within the required period of 12 months, with the average delay reaching a staggering 427 days—over two months past the legal limit.
The report highlighted notable disparities among different registry offices. Larger centers, such as Lautoka and Ba, demonstrated higher rates of timely registrations, while other locations experienced severe challenges. The Keiyasi Registry was found to have the longest average delay, at 901 days, closely followed by Lakeba with 819 days and Vunisea at 804 days. In Taveuni and Tailevu, delays also exceeded 680 days.
Alarmingly, the findings indicate that iTaukei children are disproportionately affected by these delays, making up 85.6 percent of the deferred registrations in the ten worst-performing registry offices. This group is often waiting significantly longer for their registrations compared to non-iTaukei children.
These findings come on the heels of a nationwide initiative aimed at cleaning and standardizing birth registration records, which previously relied on cumbersome free-text data entry methods. The initiative successfully standardized over 99 percent of records, shedding light on geographic discrepancies in registration practices for the first time.
The Fiji Bureau of Statistics warns that delayed registration can lead to children being excluded from vital services, such as education, healthcare, and social protection, particularly impacting those in rural and maritime areas. Addressing these disparities is crucial to ensuring that all children in Fiji have access to the rights and services they are entitled to, helping to foster a more equitable environment moving forward.
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