support of these commitments, and consistent with targets of Goal 16 aiming to improve governance, access to justice, effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, it is relevant to look at indicators seeking to capture States’ human rights commitments, acceptance and cooperation with the international human rights system. In terms of committing and assuming legal obligations to realizing universal human rights, Central and South Asia has ratified on average 61 per cent of the core international human rights instruments adopted by the UN General Assembly (62 per cent is currently the world average).29 In East and South-East Asia, however, ratification amounts to 50 per cent only.30 In terms of allowing citizens to appeal to international human rights organs if they believe their rights were violated, only 11 per cent of available mechanisms have been accepted in East and South-East Asia, whereas slightly more perspectives (22 per cent) are offered to citizen in Central and South Asia (29 per cent is currently the world average).31 In the same vein, national human rights institutions (NHRI) play a catalytic role in implementing and monitoring SDG targets and are a recognized yardstick of State accountability to human rights obligations (indicator 16.a.1). NHRIs compliant with the international benchmarks are more effectively able to provide protection and redress for victims of human rights violations or abuses. In 2017, the proportion of Asia-Pacific countries with NHRI compliant with international standards (28 per cent) continues to lag behind the rest of the world (38 per cent). On the other hand, the number of countries in the region with NHRIs that are partially or fully compliant has increased from 25 to 27 since 2015. III. PROMISING INNOVATIONS AND BEST PRACTICES Countries in the region have also been in the forefront of developing innovative ways to achieve SDG16/SDG 16+. • Incorporation of the SDG 16 into national development plans. • Data innovation. To tackle the challenges arising from lack of governance data and the discrepancy between the national indicators and the international indicators, a number of countries have conducted mapping of national and international indicators and have integrated SDG 16 into their national development plans led by the national governments. For example, Indonesia mapped SDG indicators with its local indicators, and incorporated SDG 16 targets, along with other SDG targets, into the National Medium-Term Development Plan 2015-2019. Similar efforts to incorporate SDG 16 targets in national planning framework were undertaken in Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. The data mapping exercises undertaken by countries have identified existing gaps, and have acknowledged the need for data innovation to resolve existing gaps. The use of big data can help to develop proxy indicators – for instance, social media analysis can reveal public opinion of effective governance, satisfaction with the quality of services, or patterns of discrimination or potential threat of violence. Using big data to track progress requires collaboration not only between different levels of government, but also with other actors to pool all the data. Countries like the Philippines have taken active steps to complement national statistical data. The Philippines recently passed an ordinance to use data generated at the lowest administrative level through the Community Based Monitoring System (CBMS) along with the national statistical data. Improving complementarity between the two sets of data enables availability of disaggregated data at all levels of government and shapes public policy at all levels. Other notable initiatives in the region include, the Indigenous Navigator Initiative funded by the European Union.32 The Initiative supports indigenous groups to generate community driven data to monitor recognition and implementation of their rights. It is implemented in four countries in the region – Bangladesh, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. With support from the Indigenous Navigator programme, the Kapaeeng Foundation from Bangladesh is advocating for collection of disaggregated data by indigenous groups. It has successfully worked with the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to include the option of 50 indigenous groups +1(others) in the 2021 census. 29 30 31 32 http://indicators.ohchr.org/ It is 67 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean, 78 per cent in Europe and Northern America, Australia and New Zealand regions. It is 22 per cent in Sub-Saharan Africa, 33 per cent in Latin America and the Caribbean, 56 per cent in Europe and Northern America, Australia and New Zealand regions. http://nav.indigenousnavigator.com/index.php/en/