Participating in a National Dialogue on Gender Equity in Death Registration


Reflections from the AIIMS Jodhpur Webinar

On 22 January 2026, I had the opportunity to participate in a national-level webinar titled
“Closing the Gender Gap in Death Registration: Strengthening CRVS System for Equity & Accountability in Rajasthan.”

The webinar was jointly organized by the School of Public Health, AIIMS Jodhpur and the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, bringing together public health professionals, researchers, civil society actors, and human rights advocates.

Why Death Registration and CRVS Matter

Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems are foundational to public health planning, social justice, and governance. Yet, gender disparities in death registration—particularly affecting women, marginalized communities, and rural populations—continue to undermine equity and accountability.

The webinar highlighted:

  • Structural and social barriers to death registration

  • Gendered gaps in access to civil registration systems

  • The link between CRVS, social protection, and human rights

  • Policy and advocacy pathways to strengthen equitable registration mechanisms

Learning at the Intersection of Public Health and Human Rights

The discussions reaffirmed that unregistered deaths are not just a data gap—they represent invisibility, denial of rights, and exclusion from justice and welfare systems. From a human rights perspective, equitable death registration is essential for:

  • Legal identity and dignity in death

  • Access to compensation and social security for families

  • Accountability in cases of custodial deaths, workplace fatalities, and disasters

The webinar offered valuable insights into how evidence-based advocacy, community engagement, and institutional reforms can collectively strengthen CRVS systems, especially in states like Rajasthan.

Certificate of Participation

I am grateful to the organizers for recognizing my participation with a Certificate of Participation, signed by:

  • Dr. Manoj Kumar Gupta, Coordinator, School of Public Health, AIIMS Jodhpur

  • Dr. Om Prakash Bera, Regional Advisor (Asia), Global Health Advocacy Incubator

This recognition is meaningful as it reflects continued engagement with issues that sit at the crossroads of public health, governance, and human dignity.

Looking Ahead

Strengthening CRVS systems through a gender and equity lens is not merely a technical exercise—it is a moral and constitutional imperative. Dialogues such as this webinar play a crucial role in shaping informed advocacy, responsive policy, and accountable institutions.

I look forward to continued collaboration with public health institutions, researchers, and civil society to ensure that no life—and no death—goes uncounted.



 

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