Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Demographic and Location Data Data disaggregated by sex, age, and geographic location is essential for providing a robust evidence base for effective and efficient policy responses and programmatic interventions that address the needs of vulnerable groups and help ensure that ‘no one is left behind’. UNHCR is taking concerted action to ensure that the gaps in data disaggregation are addressed. This includes working with partners to better estimate and report the demographic and geographic characteristics of the different populations with whom UNHCR works. In that regard, the ‘International Recommendations on Refugee Statistics’ and ‘Technical Report on Statistics of Internally Displaced Persons: Current Practice and Recommendations for Improvement’ produced by the Expert Group on Refugee and IDP Statistics72 were adopted at the 49th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission in March 2018. These recommend that national statistical systems unhcr > Global trends 2017 disaggregate data on refugees, asylum-seekers, and IDPs by age and sex.73 The availability of disaggregated data varies widely between countries. In general, the quality of demographic data tends to be highest in countries where UNHCR has an operational role and undertakes registration and primary data collection. In countries where national authorities are responsible for registration and primary data collection, it can be more challenging to obtain the sex- and age-disaggregated data, even if such data are collected and the statistical system is well 72 The Expert Group on Refugee and IDP Statistics (EGRIS) was established by the 47th UN Statistical Commission to improve international refugee statistics through the development of recommendations on how to collect, compile, and disseminate statistics on refugees, asylum-seekers, and related populations. A Steering Committee was established in June 2016 and currently is comprised of UNHCR, Statistics Norway, Eurostat, JIPS and the Turkish Statistical Institute. 73 See: https://unstats.un.org/unsd/statcom/49th-session/ documents/BG-Item3m-IDPStat-E.pdf; https://unstats.un.org/unsd/ statcom/49th-session/documents/BG-Item3m-RefugeeStat-E.pdf. 57