Despite the above limitations, there is indication of progress on specific indicators. These include: • Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere (target 16.1). Data is only available for one indicator, number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population (indicator 16.1.1). Across the region, the number of victims of intentional homicide has fallen. Kyrgyzstan shows the strongest improvement in the reduction of homicide rates, followed by Kazakhstan, Thailand, Samoa, Mongolia, Bhutan, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.13 A few countries showed an increase in homicide rates, such as Afghanistan, Kiribati and Tuvalu. It is also vital to note data limitations for this indicator. Though classified as Tier I, disaggregated data by sex and age is not available. Some countries have data for a few years in a row, but others have data for only one year. • Legal identity for all, including birth registration (target 16.9). Civil registration provides legal identity and ensures basic human rights and participation in formal economy. Often poor and marginalized sections of the population are the ones whose births and deaths are not registered and/or certified, thus adding to the vicious cycle of marginalization. Data for indicator 16.9.1. on the proportion of children under five whose births have been registered with a civil authority is available for only 40 countries out of the 56 countries and 2 territories of the Asia-Pacific region. In addition, each country only has data for one particular year (from 2008 to 2017). Based on this limited data, Bhutan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam have achieved a near 100 per cent rate for the registration of children under the age of 5. The countries that are falling behind with a rate between 50 and 75 per cent include Cambodia, Lao PDR, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal and Timor-Leste. Out of the countries for which data is available, five are poor performers (Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu) with less than 50 per cent of children being registered.14 The proportion of children being registered in rural areas is slightly less than the proportion of children being registered across the country, with an average of 79 per cent being registered in rural areas whilst 83 per cent have been registered overall. There is no major discrepancy between the proportion of boys and girls who have been registered, with an average of 81 per cent in both cases. But at the same time there is a discrepancy between birth registration and birth certification. While birth registration is the permanent legal record maintained by the governments, birth certification is a government issued copy of the birth registration that can be used for identification and for obtaining other services. In the Asia-Pacific region there is a high discrepancy between birth registration and birth certification. For instance, in Tuvalu, out of the 50 per cent registered, only 5 per cent have a birth certification. Despite some countries falling behind, available data could be used to inform specific policies for improving birth registration and certification. UN ESCAP is working with governments and development partners to improve civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) in the region as part of the ‘Get Every One in the Picture” initiative launched in 2014 in Asia and the Pacific. • Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels (target 16.6). Effective, accountable, transparent institutions at all levels is one of the cornerstones for achieving Agenda 2030. One key aspect of effectiveness includes the ability of the governments to implement the budgeted expenditure without much deviation. This is vital for governments to be able to deliver public services in line with policy statements, output commitments and work plans. The indicator 16.6.1 looks at actual total expenditure compared to the originally budgeted total expenditure (as defined in government budget documentation and fiscal reports). The Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability database analyses and ranks countries based on the percentage variation in total expenditure from original budgeted expenditure. Data is publicly available for only 14 Asia-Pacific countries for the period 2013-2018. Eight out of the 14 countries have only 0-5 per cent deviation from the original budgeted expenditure. In addition to PEFA data, gender budgeting data, and using SDG achievement as a lens in financial and performance auditing of governments can serve as a proxy for measuring accountability and effectiveness of institutions. 13 14 UN Statistics Division, SDG Metadata Repository, Data for indicator 16.1.1. number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population. UN Statistics Division, SDG Metadata Repository, Data for indicator 16.9.1 on proportion of children whose birth has been registered.