Using Indicators to Promote and Monitor the Implementation of Human Rights Nicolas Fasel, UN-OHCHR Geneva, 14-18 January 2008 Workshop - HURIDOCS

Outline - OHCHR work on indicators Context and background Rationale for indicators Salient features of the framework Illustration Status of work

Context and background

Rationale for indicators

Salient features of the framework

Illustration

Status of work

Context and background Request from Human Rights Treaty Bodies (ICM) for assistance in making use of statistical information Report (HRI/MC/2006/7) outlining preliminary conceptual/methodological framework Request for further validation, including through country level piloting, and to develop further lists of indicators for additional human rights

Request from Human Rights Treaty Bodies (ICM) for assistance in making use of statistical information

Report (HRI/MC/2006/7) outlining preliminary conceptual/methodological framework

Request for further validation, including through country level piloting, and

to develop further lists of indicators for additional human rights

Rationale for indicators Tools to complement qualitative and quasi-judicial assessments to facilitate implementation of human rights Measure progress / help setting priorities Strengthen transparency and accountability Facilitate self-assessment by State and reporting to treaty bodies

Tools to complement qualitative and quasi-judicial assessments

to facilitate implementation of human rights

Measure progress / help setting priorities

Strengthen transparency and accountability

Facilitate self-assessment by State and reporting to treaty bodies

Salient features of the framework Reflect the normative framework and content of HR in indicators Common approach for CPR and ESCR, strengthening indivisibility of HR Translate narrative on normative content of HR into attributes and configuration of structural, process and outcome indicators

Reflect the normative framework and content of HR in indicators

Common approach for CPR and ESCR, strengthening indivisibility of HR

Translate narrative on normative content of HR into attributes and configuration of structural, process and outcome indicators

Salient features of the framework Configuration of indicators to assess steps taken by State party in addressing its obligations: from commitment/acceptance of human rights standards (structural indicators); to efforts being undertaken to meet the obligations that flow from standards (process indicators); and on to results of those efforts (outcome indicators)

Configuration of indicators to assess steps taken by State party in addressing its obligations:

from commitment/acceptance of human rights standards (structural indicators);

to efforts being undertaken to meet the obligations that flow from standards (process indicators); and on to

results of those efforts (outcome indicators)

Salient features of the framework Structural indicators reflect ratification / adoption of legal instruments and existence of basic institutional mechanisms deemed necessary for facilitating realisation of concerned right Process indicators relate the state policy instruments with milestones (which cumulate into outcomes), hence capture accountability as well as the notion of progressive realisation Outcome indicators capture attainments, individual and collective, that reflect the status of realisation of the human rights in given context

Structural indicators

reflect ratification / adoption of legal instruments and existence of basic institutional mechanisms deemed necessary for facilitating realisation of concerned right

Process indicators

relate the state policy instruments with milestones (which cumulate into outcomes), hence capture accountability as well as the notion of progressive realisation

Outcome indicators

capture attainments, individual and collective, that reflect the status of realisation of the human rights in given context

Salient features of the framework A framework that helps identify contextually meaningful indicators based on accepted universal standards helps reflect human rights norms and principles (e.g. non-discrimination and equality, effective remedies, participation, empowerment, accountability) in indicators

A framework that helps identify contextually meaningful indicators based on accepted universal standards

helps reflect human rights norms and principles (e.g. non-discrimination and equality, effective remedies, participation, empowerment, accountability) in indicators

Salient features of the framework Focus on indicators reflecting HR concern of non-discrimination and accessibility to relevant goods & services Emphasis on disaggregation of data / indicators by prohibited grounds of discrimination An illustrative – not an exhaustive – listing of indicators

Focus on indicators reflecting HR concern of non-discrimination and accessibility to relevant goods & services

Emphasis on disaggregation of data / indicators by prohibited grounds of discrimination

An illustrative – not an exhaustive – listing of indicators

Salient features of the framework Focus on two categories of data-generating mechanisms: statistical survey/administrative records (official statistical systems) “ events-based data” on HUMAN RIGHTS violations” (HR organisations and non-governmental sources) Households perception/opinion surveys Data based on expert judgments

Focus on two categories of data-generating mechanisms:

statistical survey/administrative records (official statistical systems)

“ events-based data” on HUMAN RIGHTS violations” (HR organisations and non-governmental sources)

Households perception/opinion surveys

Data based on expert judgments

Illustration: right to adequate food Prop. of pop. below minimum level of dietary energy consumption* (…) Per capita availability of major food items of local consumption Number of recorded deaths/incidence of food poisoning related to adulterated food Prop. of underweight children below age five* Prop. adults with body mass index (BMI) < 18.5 Outcome indicators Share of household consumption of major food items fur vulnerable population met through publicly assisted programmes (…) Proportion of per capita availability of major food items sourced through domestic production, import and food aid Share of public budget spent on strengthening domestic agricultural production (…) Prop. of food producing and distributing establishments inspected for food quality standards (…) Prop. of vulnerable population covered under public nutrition supplement programmes (…) Process indicators International human rights instruments, relevant to the right to adequate food, ratified by the State Date of entry into force and coverage of the right to adequate food in the Constitution or other forms of superior law Type of accreditation of NHRIs by the rules of procedures of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions (...) Structural indicators Food accessibility Food availability Food safety and consumer protection Nutrition

Prop. of underweight children below age five*

Prop. adults with body mass index (BMI) < 18.5

Proportion of per capita availability of major food items sourced through domestic production, import and food aid

Share of public budget spent on strengthening domestic agricultural production

(…)

International human rights instruments, relevant to the right to adequate food, ratified by the State

Date of entry into force and coverage of the right to adequate food in the Constitution or other forms of superior law

Type of accreditation of NHRIs by the rules of procedures of the International Coordinating Committee of National Institutions

(...)

Illustration: right to health Maternal mortality ratio Prop. of births attended by skilled health personnel (…) Reproductive health Prop. of population with access to affordable essential drugs on a sustainable basis (…) Incidence of death associated with and prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases Incidence of deaths, injury and diseases caused by unsafe natural and occupational environment Under-five mortality rate Outcome indicators Prop. of population covered by health insurance (…) Prop. of population covered under awareness raising programmes on transmission of diseases (e.g. HIV/AIDS) (…) Prop. of population with access to improved sanitation (…) Prop. of one-year-olds immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases (e.g. measles) (…) Process indicators International human rights treaties, relevant to the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, ratified by the State Estimated proportion of births and deaths recorded through vital registration system Timeframe and coverage of national policy on health (…) Structural indicators Accessibility to health facilities and essential medicines Prevention, treatment and control of diseases Natural and occupational environment Child mortatliy and health care

Maternal mortality ratio

Under-five mortality rate

Prop. of population covered under awareness raising programmes on transmission of diseases (e.g. HIV/AIDS) (…)

International human rights treaties, relevant to the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, ratified by the State

Estimated proportion of births and deaths recorded through vital registration system

Timeframe and coverage of national policy on health (…)

Illustration: right to life Executions under death penalty in the reporting period (…) Under five mortality rate (…) Reported cases of disappearances (…) Reported cases of arbitrary deprivation of life Incidence of homicides per 100,000 population (…) Outcome indicators Number of convicted persons on death row (…) Prop. of population with sustainable access to an improved water source (…) Proportion of communications transmitted by UN Working Group on disappearances clarified by government (…) Proportion of communications sent by the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions responded to effectively by government (…) Process indicators International human rights instruments, relevant to the right to life, ratified by the State Date of entry into force and coverage of domestic laws for implementing the right to life (...) Structural indicators Death penalty Health and nutrition Disappearance of individuals Arbitrary deprivation of life

Reported cases of arbitrary deprivation of life

Incidence of homicides per 100,000 population

(…)

International human rights instruments, relevant to the right to life, ratified by the State

Date of entry into force and coverage of domestic laws for implementing the right to life

(...)

Status of the work List of illustrative indicators on : right to life right to liberty and security of person right to participate in public affairs right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment + right to a fair trial + right to freedom of opinion and expression right to adequate food right to health right to adequate housing right to education + right to work + right to social security Development of “metasheets” on each indicator (definition, sources, rationale, method of computation, level of disaggregation, periodicity, comments and limitations)

List of illustrative indicators on :

right to life

right to liberty and security of person

right to participate in public affairs

right not to be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

+ right to a fair trial

+ right to freedom of opinion and expression

right to adequate food

right to health

right to adequate housing

right to education

+ right to work

+ right to social security

Validation process Ongoing regional/country level workshops and consultation (Uganda, Guatemala, India, Brazil) Relevance of conceptual and methodological framework being recognised by national human rights stakeholders (NHRIs, national statistical agency, policy makers and NGOs) Feedback from validations being reflected in indicators lists and/or metasheets

Ongoing regional/country level workshops and consultation (Uganda, Guatemala, India, Brazil)

Relevance of conceptual and methodological framework being recognised by national human rights stakeholders (NHRIs, national statistical agency, policy makers and NGOs)

Feedback from validations being reflected in indicators lists and/or metasheets