Conceptual framework and guidance
for Integrating a children’s rights perspective into administrative data-based statistics
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Highlights
Integrating a Children’s Rights Perspective into Administrative Data-Based Statistics
UNICEF’s Conceptual Framework and Guidance for Integrating a Children’s Rights Perspective into Administrative Data-Based Statistics is a pioneering resource designed to help National Statistical Systems (NSSs) produce more inclusive, ethical, and impactful statistics for and about children. Developed by the UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office, this guidance supports evidence-informed decision-making aligned with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Why This Framework Matters
Children’s experiences and vulnerabilities are often underrepresented in administrative data systems. While these systems are essential for tracking development goals and informing policy, may be designed with adult populations in mind. This framework addresses that gap by offering strategic recommendations to ensure children’s rights are embedded throughout the data lifecycle.
Administrative data, defined as information collected through routine service delivery (e.g., health, education, social welfare), is increasingly repurposed for statistical use. However, without a child-focused lens, these data may overlook critical nuances. The framework helps NSSs—including National Statistical Offices (NSOs), line ministries, and data custodians—strengthen their capacity to produce child-sensitive statistics that uphold privacy, equity, and impact.
Four Key Dimensions
The framework is anchored in the four dimensions below that reflect the unique characteristics of children’s administrative data:
- Children interact with administrative data systems differently than adults
- Data governance must be fit for children
- Statistical output activities must focus on areas of greatest impact for children
- Children’s data carry unique statistical challenges
Included in the guidance are six core recommendations and eight guiding considerations to support actionable implementation.
Though developed in the Latin American and Caribbean context, the framework is globally relevant. It offers a structured, strategic approach for statistical systems worldwide to integrate a children’s rights perspective into administrative data-based statistics. By doing so, it empowers governments, institutions, and advocates to make better decisions for children that are grounded in data that reflect their lived realities.
