ANNEX I. >> Metadata sheets on selected indicators The indicator captures to a certain extent the results of the efforts required of a State to respect and protect the right to life, in conformity with article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and its elaboration in general comment No. 6 (1982) of the Human Rights Committee. States should take measures to prevent and punish deprivation of life by criminal acts. The indicator can be interpreted as reflecting the State party’s efforts to take preventive measures against homicides (intentional and non-intentional). By reducing the number of homicides, the State is, to a certain extent, taking reasonable steps to prevent or respond to death by criminal assault and negligence. This indicator is an outcome indicator related to the “arbitrary deprivation of life” attribute of the right to life. Method of computation  The indicator is calculated as the total number of homicides (intentional and non-intentional) divided by the total population and multiplied by 100,000 (homicide rate = (count/population)*100,000). Data collection and source  The main data collection mechanism and source are national administrative records, especially records of law enforcement agencies (police, domestic security forces, courts and prison services). Data on intentional homicide are collected through the United Nations Surveys on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems and also by UNODC in its annually updated “homicide statistics” database (see www.unodc.org/unodc/en/data-and-analysis/ homicide.html, accessed 2 July 2012). Data on homicides can also come from public health sources, such as those provided by WHO (see www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/estimates_country/en/index html and www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/data-and-evidence/databases/european-health-for-alldatabase-hfa-db2, both accessed 2 July 2012). Periodicity  The indicator based on administrative records is generally available annually. The indicator based on UNODC surveys is generally available annually or biennially. Disaggregation  To fully reflect any disparities in the reduction of homicides (intentional and non-intentional), disaggregation by type of crime, sex, age, economic and social situation, ethnicity, minority, indigenous, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, migrant, disability, sexual orientation, marital and family status, place of residence (region and rural/urban) of convicted and sentenced person, and the type of sentencing is conceptually desirable. In practice, most countries provide data disaggregated by type of crime, sex, age and region. Comments and limitations  Homicides in national administrative records and recorded by law enforcement agencies (e.g., police, courts, prisons) may underestimate the incidence of homicide, if used casually to draw generalized conclusions for the country as a whole. Official crime statistics in general may not be accurate. For example, some crimes are not detected or known by anyone or, if known, may not be reported to the police. Some crimes, though reported, are not recorded by the police. Even crimes that are recorded may be classified or processed erroneously at different stages. Examples of provisions relevant to the right to life: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, art. 3; International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, art. 6; International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, art. 12 (2) (a); International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, art. 5; Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, arts. 2 and 12; Convention on the Rights of the Child, art. 6; International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, art. 9; and Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, art. 10. Human Rights Indicators 159