A human rights-based approach to data

Summary

Aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this note provides guidance on a Human Rights-Based Approach to Data (HRBAD), emphasizing data collection and disaggregation. Adopted at the United Nations Summit in September 2015, the 2030 Agenda reaffirms States’ commitment to international law, pledging to leave no one behind and advocating for systematic data disaggregation to achieve and measure the SDGs.

An HRBAD is essential as disaggregation of indicators is not value-neutral and carries risks for data subject rights. This approach enhances collaboration among data stakeholders and develops communities of practice that align with international human rights norms and principles. The note is grounded in internationally agreed principles for statistics and supports the call for a data revolution for sustainable development that upholds human rights.