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Disclaimer / Limitations
This country’s legal measures were reviewed by our legal staff in consultation with in-country lawyers and/or CRVS legal experts. All efforts were made to ensure the accuracy of the legal analysis, however, if you consider there to be any discrepancies or if there have been changes in the law of the country since our staff last updated the legal analysis, we welcome any additional information or insights. Please contact us via this form.
Civil Registration System
Maldives
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Maldives
Civil Registration System
National Civil Registration Agency
National Civil Registration Agency
National Level Agency
Does the law designate a national level agency responsible for civil registration?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The law should clearly establish an agency with responsibility for managing the civil registration system. The structure of the civil registration system varies across countries. Some countreis have a centralized system (controlled at the central government level). Others have a decentralised system (controlled at the sub-national government level). Often, control of the system is shared between the national government and subnational governments. However, even in a fully decentralized system, there should be an agency at the national level to enforce minimum standards or to work cooperatively with decentralized jurisdictions and offices to ensure generally uniform practices and procedures.
The Law on Birth and Death Record, and Creating Birth Certificates and National Identity Cards designates the Department of National Registration as the central level agency responsible for civil registration.
Powers and Responsibilities of National Civil Registration Agency
Does the law provide for a uniform process to complete civil registrations across the country?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
To improve registration of vital events, legislation should provide for standardized and consistent processes for the notification of vital events throughout a country's jurisdiction.
The Law on Birth and Death Record, and Creating Birth Certificates and National Identity Cards establishes uniform procedures for birth and death registration across the country.
Does the law estabish the head of the national civil registration agency? If yes, does the law grant sufficient powers to that person to effectively and efficiently implement the system?
Yes, Powers established in law.
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The head of the civil registration agency (often called the national registrar or registrar general) should be clearly set out in the law and should have sufficient power and authority to ensure that the civil registration system functions efficiently and effectively. These powers and responsibilities should include oversight and implementation of the civil registration system; participation in drafting of rules, regulations and instructions to promote uniform practice; delegation of registration responsibilities and powers to other officials; management and inspection of registration offices; conducting quality assurance monitoring and addressing areas of concern; assessing degree of coverage and establishing boundaries for local offices; hiring, management, and training of personnel; management of physical resources and technology; resolution of incidents and appeals; promoting the registration requirements to the public; receiving and compiling data; exchanging information with other agencies; and safekeeping records and archives.
The Law on Birth and Death Record, and Creating Birth Certificates and National Identity Cards designates the Department of National Registration as the central level agency responsible for civil registration. This law does not designate or establish the head of the Department. The responsibilities of the Department are stated in various provisions throughout the act and include: maintaining information submitted by Island and City Councils on birth and death registration and certification; establishing penalties for violations of the Law; ensuring confidentiality of registration information; establishing a complaint resolution mechanism; and formulating and implementing regulations. These powers are sufficient to ensure the efficient and effective administration of the civil registration system.
Does the law allow the national registrar to delegate powers and responsibilities?
No
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The volume of work in most countries may require the head of the civil registration agency to delegate powers or functions to others. The law on civil registration should clearly define who may delegate authority, which duties may be delegated and to whom. It is important that the law identify the powers of delegation for the head of an agency, and clearly identify the persons to whom the head of civil registration agency can delegate powers and responsibilities. For example, the head of an agency might be authorized to delegate duties to the deputy head of the agency or to local registrars.
The Law on Birth and Death Record, and Creating Birth Certificates and National Identity Cards does not authorize the head of the Department of National Registration to delegate powers. However, because the Maldives has decentralized civil registration with vital events registered at the Island and City Council level, delegation of national level powers is not necessary or appropriate.
