Background:
The UNODC-KOSTAT Centre of Excellence (CoE) previously contributed to the 7th Session of the ESCAP Committee on Statistics, 26-28 August 2020, by making an intervention and providing contributions to Action Area A: Engaging users and investing in statistics. The intervention presented UNODC’s contributions and plans of the CoE to improve crime and criminal statistics in the Asia-Pacific region and provided an opportunity for the statistical community to further learn of the role and support offered by the CoE which was also made available in the report.1
In August 2022, the 8th Session of the ESCAP Committee on Statistics provided the opportunity for development partners to inform the Chief Statisticians of the Asia-Pacific region on statistics-related work undertaken over the last two years to advance official statistics for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Alongside the Formal Session and Expert Group Meetings, the Session also hosted several side events to supplement the main proceedings.
Objectives:
To continue to enhance the capacity of Asia-Pacific Member States and Associate Members in the areas of crime and criminal justice statistics, the CoE, in collaboration with UNODC Headquarters, hosted a side event at the 8th Session of the ESCAP Committee. As the custodian entity of SDG indicators predominantly found in SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, UNODC continuously develops tools to enhance the quality and quantity of data available at the national level; this side event showcased recent UNODC methodological developments to ensure high-quality data for evidence-based policymaking.
1 ESCAP/CST/2020/INF/9, Advancing official statistics for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: initiatives by global, regional and subregional organizations with respect to the collective vision and framework for action, July 2020.
The three methodological tools which presented at the side event were:
- SDG 16 Survey Initiative2
- Statistical framework for measuring the gender-related killing of women and girls (also referred to as “femicide/feminicide”)3
- International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes4
This side event aimed to highlight UNODC innovative methodological tools to:
- Encourage Member States and Associate Members to enquire about and receive UNODC technical assistance in relation to the aforementioned methodological tools.
- Advocate for the prioritization of crime and criminal justice statistics, particularly but not limited to, National Statistics Offices and other entities working in the areas of crime and criminal justice statistics.
- Continue to highlight the role of the CoE as the regional hub for crime and criminal justice statistics.
2 UNODC, UNDP, & OHCHR, SDG 16 Survey Initiative Questionnaire & SDG16 Survey Initiative Implementation Manual, March 2022
3 UNODC & UNWOMEN, Statistical framework for measuring the gender-related killing of women and girls (also referred to as “femicide/feminicide”), March 2022
4 UNODC, The International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes, March 2016