Q&A: Why CRVS systems are critical for gender equality

Gender equality cannot be achieved unless women are accurately represented in country data, said Irina Dincu, senior program specialist at the Centre of Excellence for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, or CRVS, systems, housed at the International Development Research Centre. In many low- and middle-income countries, this is not happening, she added. “There is no gender equality if half of your population is invisible from vital statistics. And if you're not getting the data right and counting your people — including the women and girls — you're not going to get to the 2030 agenda,” Dincu said, explaining that a CRVS system is critical for collecting and compiling that information and an important tool for empowering women.