Both domestically and at the United Nations (UN) fora, the International Decade for People of African Descent Assembly-Guyana (IDPADA-G) has consistently advocated for the collection of disaggregated data to measure the progress towards equity in our multi-ethnic society. So said the organisation in a release.
As recently as 30 May 2023, IDPADA-G hosted a panel discussion titled “Measures of Recognition, Justice and Development in Guyana: How Do We Recognise Progress?” with Guyanese experts. That discussion underscored that publication and analysis of disaggregated data by the State is a prerequisite to addressing inequalities and inequity in distribution of resources and provision of public and social services.
To expand the national conversation on this global issue, we encourage civil society, particularly human rights groups, academia, development practitioners and interested Guyanese to join us in participating in a virtual consultation on Data for Racial Justice hosted by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The virtual world-wide consultation will be held at 10:00hrs, (Guyana) on Wednesday, November 15, 2023. Register at https://indico.un.org/event/1008225/
The virtual consultation is organised pursuant to HRC resolution 47/21 on racial justice and equality and it contributes to the Office’s work towards advancing the programme of activities of the International Decade for People of African Descent.
It builds on recent work on disaggregated data, in which the Secretary-General, High Commissioner, and UN human rights mechanisms have called upon States to compile, analyse, disseminate and publish data disaggregated by race, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender, age and other factors, with strict safeguards and in accordance with international human rights law. It draws on the human rights-based approach to data which provides practical guidance to data collection and disaggregation in order to leave no-one behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The event aims to raise awareness about:
- The obligations placed on States and the importance to collect, publish, and use data disaggregated by race or ethnic origin and other factors to inform the development and monitoring of laws, policies, and programmes to address systemic racism faced by people of African descent.
- Experiences and lessons learnt of collecting and using data disaggregated by race or ethnic origin, drawing on the six principles of the human rights-based approach to data, namely: participation; data disaggregation; self-identification; transparency; privacy; and accountability.
- Recent recommendations by the United Nations and UN human rights mechanisms on the use of data, grounded in the human rights-based approach, to advance the human rights of people of African descent.
