Data collection to better women’s lives

Statistics on women not only help to track their status but can also directly improve their circumstances, a United Nations report released mid-January argues, recommending that Governments gather and publicize more gender-disaggregated data.
“Statistics are unsung yet essential ingredients for economic and social progress”, said Jose Antonio Ocampo, the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, launching The World’s Women 2005: Progress in Statistics.
The absence of data to analyse issues such as sex discrimination poses a serious problem. “One of the most pronounced shortcomings in this area, with the most damaging effects, appears in the collection of data disaggregated by sex and of data focusing on gender issue”, he said.
Mary Chamie, Chief of the Demographic and Social Statistics Branch of the United Nations Statistics Division, commented that “Commitment to the Millennium Development Goals had been a prod to improved statistical collection”.
“But big gaps in reporting remain, and we want to assist Governments and donors to close them”, she added.
Among its recommendations, the 165-page report suggests that governments carry out a census every 10 years and to improve gender statistics, ensure the viability of an integrated national survey programme, and share information with policy makers and the public in a timely manner so it can be used to good effect.
(Source: UN News Centre, 18 January)