The power of minority disaggregated data to challenge discrimination and achieve inclusion

As this session of the UN Forum on Minority Issues invites stakeholders to think about ways and means to promote the social inclusion of persons belonging to minorities and their socio-economic participation, a question arises: how can states, public agencies and international organizations assess the reality and seriousness of exclusion, measure progress towards inclusion and the impact of policies to further socio-economic participation, if they do not have the data and statistics allowing them to distinguish persons belonging to national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities within the general population?

Disaggregation of data has been addressed and promoted by UN Treaty Bodies, by UN Special Procedures and by OHCHR. Efforts to further disaggregate data, including by ethnicity, language, religion or belief and indigenous status have also been part of the discussion of the recent mid-point SDG Summit in New York. Yet, much remains to be done in order for UN entities, states and public entities to gather, use and make public data and indicators that are disaggregated by these identity factors.

This event will be an opportunity to listen to the experiences of minority rights defenders from different regions, who will share the challenges that the lack of data poses to their work, as well as their experiences and initiatives to use data to challenge discrimination and exclusion or to advocate for data disaggregation in their countries. Two experts, the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues and the Co-Executive Director of Minority Rights Group International (MRG) will then share their reactions and reflections after hearing these testimonies, and the floor will be open for questions or brief comments from the audience.

Event details

Where? Room XXIII, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

When? Thursday 30 November 2023, 2.00 to 3.00 pm

Registration: No registration needed.