Attaining a modernised and an optimal functioning of the civil status system in the country in which citizens are fully aware of the importance of civil status registration remains precedence for the government. As the continent and Cameroon observes the second African Day for the Registration of Civil Status and Vital Statistics under the theme “Birth certificates for all: fundamental for human rights and promoting inclusion,” officials took time off to outline the roadmap covered by government and partners in promoting civil status registration. 

Launching the start of activities on August 8, 2019 at the Yaounde Municipal City Hall ahead of the day commemorated every August 10, the Minister of Decentralisation and Local Development, Georges Elanga Obam, said the importance of civil status registration and related statistics is well established. “The theme of the African Union for the commemoration of this second day is of particular importance. Indeed, birth registration plays an important role in building modern administrative systems and inclusive societies, protecting human rights and fighting discrimination as well as inequality, amongst others,” the Minister stated. He also noted that birth registration statistics contribute in developing proper public policies and identifying development problems to better design and check development policies and reliably forecast demographic trends. As highlighted by the Minister, registration of facts and vital statics fall squarely in line with the goals of the 2063 Africa Union’s Agenda which aims amongst other things to build the “African we want” and the 2030 Global Agenda which seeks to “leave no one behind.”

For the Director General of the National Civil Status Office (BUNEC), Alexandre Marie Yomo, civil status registration gives identification and accompanies a citizen throughout his/her life while facilitating the coherent production of statistics by the government that favour economic and social aspects of the country.