Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics:

Threats and Responses________________________

UNSC High Level Forum on Official Statistics

Panelists

Jean-Louis BodinPali LeholaBrian PinkWalter RadermacherEduardo Sojo Garza-Aldape

Threats and ResponsesThreats to relevance, impartiality, and integrity

(Principles 1, 2, 3)

Threats to quality, cost-effectiveness, misuse and coordination (Principles 4, 5)

Threats arising from data deluge: national coordination, confidentiality, legislation (Principles 6, 7,8)

What can we do: international coordination and cooperation (Principles 9, 10)

Structure of the ForumIntroduction 15 minutes

Panelist 1Presentation/Questions 15 minutes/5 minutes

Panelist 2Presentation/Questions 15 minutes/5 minutes

Panelist 3Presentation/Questions 15 minutes/5 minutes

Panelist 4Presentation/Questions 15 minutes/5 minutes

Panelist 5Presentation/Questions 15 minutes/5 minutes

General questions and summary 65 minutes

Principles1. Relevance, impartiality and equal access

2. Professionalism

3. Accountability

4. Prevention of misuse

5. Cost-effectiveness

6. Confidentiality

7. Legislation

8. National coordination

9. International coordination

10. International statistical cooperation

Key objectives of the ForumUnderstand why this is being discussed now

Timing

Consider why it matters so muchImportance

Establish what has happenedEvidence

Determine what can we do about itHandling

Key messagesTiming…. why now?

Budgetary pressuresPolitical interventions

Key messagesImportance…. why do the fundamental

principles matter so much?Code of conduct for global official statistics

communityRepresent core values of official statistics

professionEthical standards against which the work of

official statisticians is judged

Key messagesEvidence…. what’s happened?

Budgets cherry-pickedWork programme powers taken awayMethods not keeping pace with economy/societyOfficial statistics being marginalisedSaturation of statistics from other sourcesIncreasing vulnerability in public domainOpen to attack/being undermined

Key messagesHandling…. what can we do?

Desirable for Principles to be redrafted to improve clarity?

Periodic reviews through national reports and peer reviews?

Commission to take specific action on national implementation of Principles?

Mechanisms to refine Principles and strengthen implementation?

Actions to commemorate 20th anniversary of Principles