 Hello, and thank you for joining us on Human Rights, Data and Statistics, a conversation between the UN Human Rights Office and some of the members of our Data and Statistics community on LinkedIn Live. I'm your host, Grace DeFarn, from the UN Human Rights Office. Today, we discuss building trust in data and statistics with an emphasis on leaving no one behind, the pledge of the Sustainable Development Goals. At the UN Human Rights Office, we believe that you can produce data following international human rights and statistical standards while putting people at the centre. We also work with the human rights community and the statistical community to come closer together. We are here in Bern, Switzerland at the UN World Data Forum, and today I'm excited to welcome two guests who join us to bring their take on rebuilding trust in data and statistics. First, Aparna Basnyat is the UN Development Program's Research and Policy Advisor and SDG 16, which addresses peace, justice and strong institutions. Thank you for joining us, Aparna, and welcome. Thanks very much, Grace. Also joining us, coming all the way from Peru, Luis Calle from the National Statistical Office of Peru. Welcome, Luis. Thank you for your attention. If you want to join this conversation with a comment or a question, send them in in our comment sections with the hashtag UNHumanRights. We will post a few of your questions or comments later at the broadcast. So Aparna and Luis, right now the trust in data and statistics seems to be seriously undermined. In many places in the world we see alarming divides between experts and the ordinary individuals and between official statistics and the popular perception of reality. So restoring faith in data must be a priority for us statisticians, data scientists and also human rights advocates. So my first question to you, Aparna, is how do you think we in the data and statistics community can rebuild trust in our statistical products? Thanks very much, Grace. And it really is a pleasure to be here with you today. I think the questions you raise are incredibly important and are very relevant for our conversation today. You know, from where we stand at UNDP we do a lot of work around supporting collection of data and statistics on development issues. And we're seeing across the board in many contexts, you know, as you're saying, trust in facts declining, trust in misinformation spreading, and I think there's a really important role that reliable data and statistics can provide. And what we're seeing is, you know, the principles that we've been talking about about the human rights based approach to data is very important principles like transparency, participation. These are fundamental to rebuilding the trust in the data that's out there. So having transparent methodologies in how we collect data, engagement of different stakeholders in the production of data, and very importantly, then ultimately that data has to be used for something, right? So how do we use that data to bring about transformational change becomes very important. And so the link between trust and then the change that we want to see in the ground, that really the trust is very important for that. Thanks. Thank you, Parna. Very good points. And so, Luis, same question to you, but from a perspective on an independent national statistical office. Okay. The maximum. Hello, everybody. So, well, in my case, I think you raise an excellent point because from a national perspective, from the national statistical office, I can summarize your question in a few words. We need to rebuild the trust in data. And from our perspective, I personally believe that we can achieve through the adherence to certain principles that are ruling the statistical world nowadays. So these principles are common and are developed in order to assure the statistical quality around the world. So we are talking about the data coherence, transparency, accountability, the stakeholder participation that Parna already mentioned. And we need to align the supply demand from, we need to align the supply, align demand from users and producers. And we have to promote a strong dissemination process in order to bring this product to the citizens. So in that sense, it should be noted that these some guidance are common in several instruments. So for example, the UN Statistical Principles, the prior group for Governor Statistics Handbook, and another one that is really important, for example, the human rights approach that we are really developed. So it's really, really important among others. Thank you very much, Luis. So back to you, Parna. So Parna, the UNDP, the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Drug Agency, is working together on a joint survey on SDG 16 on Goal 16, which is on peace, justice and strong institutions. So can you tell us why do this survey? Grace, I have to tell you, first of all, we're super excited about this survey. We are in the point right now where we are concluding the piloting around the survey. But to your question of why are we doing this, we're seeing a lot of challenges in terms of availability of data across the board on the SDGs, but particularly on Goal 16. And I think these three agencies that have come together to see what can be done and what tools can we provide national statistics offices and national partners to be able to collect the data, to increase data availability on SDG 16. And this tool, which is the SDG 16 survey, as you mentioned, it can help countries to collect data on at least 10 of the SDG 16 indicators. So we're at the point right now where we are concluding pilotings. We've piloted in eight countries, and the tool should be available next year. But I just wanted to say, I mean, three things around the SDG 16 survey instrument itself. So first is that, you know, as I said, it's one instrument that you can use to collect 10 different SDG 16 indicators. It has modules on access to justice, on violence, on corruption, on discrimination, on governance. You know, a lot of these areas where it's often a challenge to collect data or the tools or the methodologies haven't been available in the past. So this can help countries and national statistics offices to collect data on these issues. The second thing that I wanted to say is around the rigorousness of the approach that we've taken in developing these methodologies. It's been a two-year process where we have gone through a process of consultation around the questionnaires with national statistics offices and other stakeholders. We've done cognitive testing in three countries. We have piloted in eight countries in very different contexts. So it's really been a process of putting together a very strong and robust tool that countries can use. And, you know, as we talked about trust, it's gone through a very, very intense process so that people can trust the methodologies and the questionnaires and the implementation guides that are being developed. And the last point is that it's a very flexible tool. So it's modular in its approach. Countries can adjust to where they see they may need to collect data on. So you can select particular modules to use. It can be contextualized in different country contexts and used to be able to respond to certainly the core questions that are there in the questionnaire, but add also other questions that may be relevant to the particular country context. So I'm very happy to share that with you and we hope that it'll be available by the end of this year so countries can use it. Thanks. Thank you, Aparna. A quick follow-up. You mentioned that you are piloting the survey. So how do you allow to follow the human rights-based approach to data in the piloting of this survey? Thanks, Grace. Yeah. No, the human rights-based approach to data. I mean, the way we've approached it in the survey itself is that, one, you know, the survey is a tool. I think as I was saying earlier, it's a tool, but the process on how you actually implement the survey becomes very important. So how do you engage stakeholders to understand what we want to collect data around? They're involved in the conversation of why it's important to collect this data and ultimately to use it. So I think this one participation is very important in that process, but ultimately the participation for what, right, so that when the data is available, it can be used for accountability purposes. So if we're talking about satisfaction with public services, if people understand why this data is being collected, which pockets are being left behind, for example, of the population, whether it's geographic areas or particular ethnic groups, to understand that and to then use the data to hold duty bears accountable becomes very important. I think the second point around the human rights-based approach to data that we've tried to apply is around, you know, do no harm. So certainly around issues of making sure that when we are collecting this data, you know, it's based on self-identification of groups, for example. So that's very important so that, you know, at the very least, you're doing no harm. In one of the areas where we've implemented the pilot is Somalia, where it can be a very difficult context. So how do we make sure that we are not putting people in more harm by the questions that we are asking? So these things that we need to take into consideration as we implement the survey will be very important. And then the last thing I would just say is that the survey is very important in terms of data disaggregation. So we've really emphasized, you know, how do we disaggregating between different groups, but also around the, you know, we have a whole module on discrimination. And what we really want to see is certainly the discrimination module on its own, but also how it interacts with other modules. So how does discrimination impact corruption, for example, or how does violence and discrimination interact with each other? So the modules certainly can be looked at on their own, but also having it as an overall one survey instrument, you get to see, you know, who is being left behind and how then we can use this data to translate it to policymaking that can make a change on these areas. Thank you, Aparna, very exciting. We look forward to hearing more and finding out the results of this survey. So, Louise, a question to you. A task team addressing discrimination and inequalities are being set up in your office at the National Statistical Office and Peru. So can you tell us a bit more, the objective of this task team? Well, at first I would like to say thank you to the prior group to propose in our National Statistical Office to co-chair this task team about discrimination and equality. So in that sense, we were putting our efforts to do this job well. So in that case, I think that is the main purpose of this task team is try to encourage the National Statistical Office to advance and improve the implementation of statistical discrimination and try to use universal standards in order to measure well this issue that is racing around the world. So in that case, we are going to consider the eight dimensions of the prior group handbook on governance statistics. In this case, of course, we are focusing on our main topic that is non-discrimination and equality. Two products are respected. So the first one is a questionnaire model and a way of how to implement it through guidances. And the second product is related about how to collect this kind of information using administrative data. In that sense, we encourage another statistical office that are interested to be part of this job. They are cordially invited to be part of this initiative. So we are expecting to develop this job in two ways. In an internal way, from the Peruvian perspective, we are gathering another public agency to be part of this process. For example, the Ombudsman, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, and the other agencies. And we expect to have the president or another expert from another statistical office. And last, finally, we'd like to say that we are expecting great outputs about this process. So we invite to everyone who is interested to be part of this process and that's it. Thank you, Louise. So we have very important work for the task team and we good luck to all the work that you are doing. So if you are just joining us, welcome to Human Rights Data and Statistics. I'm your host, Grace Defan from the UN Human Rights Office. This is a conversation on LinkedIn Live. We have been discussing rebuilding trust in data and statistics with a human rights approach. So still with me are Parna Basnyat, UNDP's research and policy advisor on SDG 16 and Louise Kaya from the National Peruvian Statistical Office. So now we will take a few minutes for your questions and comments. So if you would like to share yours, be sure to use hashtag UN Human Rights so we can see your comments. Parna and Louise, we do have some questions from our social media platform. So I think I'll take the first one and this one is for Louise. So Louise, why do you think it's necessary that a survey on discrimination and equality be developed? Well, I think that it's really important because in Latin American countries, well, we face a lot of this process. Now discrimination was a big concern about our realities. So I think that this survey model will help to try to find more lights about this situation. So in that sense, I think that the Statistical Office has a huge responsibility to try to put it clear and try to find a solution and try to bring this information to users and try to increase the awareness about how it's important and why it's important to fight against discrimination. So of course, if you take into consideration a human-based perspective, of course, it's relatively obvious that we have to deal with. So in that sense, I think the only way that we can take an approach about this is only through statistics. So in that sense, well, we are part of these movements and we expect to do our job and among a non-statistical office probably we'll follow this example that we are conducting right now. Thank you, Louise. And so we also have one question for you, Aparna, from our audience. So yeah, so how will the survey questionnaire on SDG 16 be implemented by national statistical offices or national statistical systems, for example, like our colleague here, Louise? Yeah, no, that's a great question, Grace. I think the survey is designed so that it is actually implemented and owned by the national statistics systems and national counterparts. I think that in different countries it'll be approached in different ways, but generally the focal point for many of the SDG 16 reporting is the national statistics office. So they will be in the lead in terms of taking forward the questionnaire, they will be contextualizing it in their country context and the three agencies that are working on the survey are available to provide the support needed to take forward the survey. But ultimately, the survey has to be nationally owned and that's why it's very important and nationally owned, certainly by the national actors, but I think also by the communities, by the people. So it's important to also make sure that there is broader ownership around the survey and the issues that the survey is covering so that ultimately you are able to translate what's coming out of the survey into policies on the ground. Okay, great, thank you. So I think we have still time to take a few more questions. So Louise, there's one question for you from our audience and I think you talked a little bit about this in some of your responses, but it would be good to get a bit more idea on how does the data provided by the UN system have been helpful for you to support and adopt in your survey practices or your statistical practices? Well, I think from the perspective of our statistical offices, the data provided by UN put the line and try to make an international standard to follow. So in that sense, we really appreciate the great job that is conducted by the Human Rights Office and another agency that is part of this process. In that sense, I consider that this is really important to try to follow and try to adhere the international guidance and try to produce statistics following the international standards. So in this core, well, it's the core of our business from statistical offices. I personally believe that the United Nations are conducted a great job considering the 2030 agenda. So the idea is to reach this 2030, to moving forward about the main issue that the world is facing right now. So in that sense, I think everything that is related with the non-screenation inequalities and some gaps that have to be filled are really important and UN is doing a great part of this in this topic. Thank you, Louise and Aparna. So we are reaching the end of our conversation, but I would like to give each of you the chance to share your final thoughts on our topic today, on rebuilding trust and data in statistics. So Aparna, you can start off, please. Thanks, Grace. Yeah, I mean, in terms of rebuilding trust in data and statistics, survey instruments like the SDG 16 survey can be a really important tool to rebuild that trust. I mean, the issues and topics covered under SDG 16 are very important to sort of rebuilding the social contract between people and the state, right? So, and when we look at issues like access to services, when we look at issues like discrimination and violence, I mean, how these are playing out in societies and how people can address these challenges to be able to develop the policies that really address the root causes of that, it's important to have the data and have reliable data. And that's where the role of national statistics offices becomes very important to rebuild that trust that we're talking about and to make sure that the information that we're getting are ones where we can make good decisions upon and that it's reliable information, it's trustworthy, and that will then eventually make an impact to improve people's lives. Thanks. Thank you, Aparna. And Louise, same question, your last thoughts on our topic, rebuilding trust in data and statistics. Well, I would like to finish saying that it's really important to reach high standards and try to leave no one behind. So, even this is happening in the statistical context. So, we have a big statistical office that are conducting great processes against great services and greatest statistical activities. And we have a less developed statistical agency that they are trying to follow UN's recommendation and try to follow UN principles. The idea to reach in the 2030 is that we have an extraordinary statistical system around the world. And I need to remember to all the audience that we are working in this process and the main goal of the statistical convention is to have better lives, to better statistics, to have better lives. And in that sense, we encourage to all the statistical producers to put these efforts and move forward and try to superior themselves and try to move off themselves in order to reach excellency and try to bring the statistics for any person who required and try to finally use this statistic for its main purpose, to keep people to take decisions. Thank you, Louise, very important point. So, thank you, Aparna and Louise, for helping us talk about how to restore faith in data and statistics and how human rights can help this. I'm sure our audience, just as I have greatly enjoyed hearing from you. And thank you for those who join us on our first Linkedin Live event. Please share your comments and feedback online. The hashtag is Human Rights Live. Till next time, I am Grace Stefan, saying goodbye and reminding you to stand up for human rights.