Policy specialists, statisticians and data scientists working in government or with civil society organizations, as well as development practitioners and human rights advocates should find A Human Rights-Based Approach to Data (HRBAD) particularly timely. It responds to an urgent need to provide practical human rights guidance to data collection and disaggregation in order to leave no-one behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The 2030 Agenda is to be implemented in a manner consistent with the rights and obligations of States under international law. Deciding whether to pursue disaggregation of indicators is not a norm or value-neutral exercise. Given that data collection and disaggregation have associated risks to the enjoyment by data subjects of their fundamental rights, HRBAD has much to offer. It should help bring together relevant data stakeholders and develop communities of practice committed to improve the quality, inclusiveness, relevance and use of data and statistics consistent with international human rights standards, norms and principles.