The First Meeting of Heads of National Civil Registration Organizations/Centers of ECO Member States was held on 3-4 October 2011 in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, hosted by the Iranian National Organization for Civil Registration (NOCR). Delegates from seven (7) ECO Member States namely Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran (host), Kyrgyz Republic, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Republic of Tajikistan and Republic of Turkey participated in the Meeting.
The objectives of this Meeting were to provide opportunity for the participants to exchange their experience on important issues related to civil registration and associated services.
His Excellency Mr. Mohammad Najjar, Minister for Interior of the Islamic Republic of Iran, inaugurated the Meeting. His Excellency Mr. Nazemi Ardakani, Deputy Interior Minister and Head of NOCR of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H.E. M. Yahya Maroofi, ECO Secretary General and His Excellency Mr. Ghashghavi, Deputy Iranian Foreign Minister also made statements during the inaugural session.
On the sidelines of the Meeting an exhibition depicting the achievements and historical background of the Iranian National Organization of Civil Registration was launched by the Interior Minister.
The Heads of delegation while briefing the meeting about the historical background of the Civil Registration Authorities of their respective countries also highlighted the organizational structure, objective, activities, future plans and projects and best practices. They also discussed the challenges being faced by these Organizations and expressed their commitment to enhance cooperation among these Organizations of the Member States and encouraged the continuity in exchange of information.
The participants shared experiences and best practices in their respective countries on the most important topics of civil registration such as registration of vital events, production and release of population statistics and information, National Code (ID Number) and Smart Cards, promotion of safety and security factors of issued documents, civil status registration and E-Government.
The Meeting deliberated on the issue of educational and research co-operations and decided to establish a trilateral working group comprising of Iran, Pakistan and Turkey in collaboration with the ECO Secretariat to coordinate and identify the main headlines and topics for educational and research cooperation among the ECO Member States. The Working Group will also work out on finding the possible financial sources for materializing this proposal. Meanwhile, the I.R. of Iran expressed its readiness to organize virtual training courses for the experts of the interested Member States. It was also agreed that the above Trilateral Working Group in coordination with the ECO Secretariat would consider all the suggestion and possibilities of the establishment of ECO national registry authority’s website and its contents and components.
The Meeting underlined the importance of (i) on-time registration of vital events (ii) production of Identity Documents (iii) Production of population statistics & information and requested Iran, Pakistan and Turkey to be coordinators of these issues respectively and prepare some proposals for enhancement of cooperation in above areas to be presented to the next meeting of Heads of Civil Registration.
Introducing of focal points in the field of Civil Registration and conducting of study tours to witness the progress made in the field of Smart-Card as well as holding of workshops, expert group meetings in the priority areas of Civil Registration were also discussed in the Meeting.
The next meeting will be held in Turkey in 2013.
In conclusion the participants expressed deep appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the excellent arrangements made for the meeting and expressed thanks and appreciation to the ECO Secretariat for facilitation and preparation of the relevant documents.
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