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Civil Registration System
Maldives
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Maldives
Civil Registration System
Local Civil Registrations
Local Civil Registrations
Powers and Responsibilities of Local Civil Registrars
Is the local civil registrar empowered by law to register vital events? If yes, do they have the power to issue certificates of registration?
Yes, the local registrar is empowered to register vital events and issue certificates
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Legislation should clearly state the duties and powers of local registrars (the civil registrar responsible for the primary registration area), which include recording and registering vital events in compliance with registration laws, and issuing certificates or copies of vital records upon request, without needing approval from the central level.
The local registrar has the power to register births and issue birth certificates. The law requires the local Council to register the birth and enter it into the birth register, upon receiving the Birth Record Form from the health facility. The law also requires the local council, upon application by the parents (within 6 months of birth), to prepare and issues the birth certificate
Does the registrar (local or other level) have the authority to correct minor errors (such as data entry errors and typographical errors)? If yes, are such changes free of charge?
Yes, the registrar can correct minor errors. Fee not addressed.
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Legislation should authorize the local civil registrar to make minor corrections such as typographical and data entry errors in civil registration records. Such corrections should be free of charge.
The local council has the authority to correct minor errors, such as typographical errors , and may correct more substantive errors if the authenticy of the correction is proven by legal documents. The law is silent as to fees.
Does the registrar (local or other level) have the power to add omitted information (such as name of baby, in the case of late naming, and paternity information)?
Yes, the registrar can add omitted information. Fee not addressed.
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
Legislation should authorize the local civil registrar to add uncontested information such as uncontested paternity information, and add omitted information such as adding or amending the name of a child within a defined time period.
The local council has the authority to add omitted information. The addition of information should supported by legal documents. The law is silent as to fees.
Does the law require the local civil registration office to transmit registration records to the national civil registration authority on a regular and timely basis?
Yes
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
The legislation should set time frames for transfer of information from the local register to the centralized register. The time frames may vary based on policymakers' discretion, depending on whether the system is computerized or non-computerized.
The Law on Birth and Death Record, and Creating Birth Certificates and National Identity Cards states that information on births registered by Councils shall be submitted to the Department of National Registration in accordance with regulations. The regulations are unavailable or have not yet been issued. However, in practice, Councils submit information on registered births through the electronic system (in real time).
Does the law provide the criteria or required qualifications for appointing, designating, or selecting local registrars?
To some extent
Recommended Practice based on International Guidelines
It is important that the law provide clear requirements governing fitness and qualifications of local civil registrars. To prevent corruption, the law should provide that registrars be full-time public service officials, with defined terms of employment and adequate salary level.
The Law on Birth and Death Record, and Creating Birth Certificates and National Identity Cards provides that births are registered by Island and City Councils. The law does not designate an individual person within the Council responsible for registering births. Therefore, the law does not set out qualifications for a single local registar. However, under the Act on Decentralization, Island and City Councils members are elected officials who must meet certain qualifications to stand for election, including citizenship, religion and age qualifications.
