Data sources A data source or provider refers to the organisation from where statistics are obtained. The term “also refers to the characteristics and components of the raw statistical data used for compiling statistical aggregates. Both meanings apply in relation to administrative data on violations and abuses generated in the course of monitoring activities conducted by a human rights body, mechanism, or institution pursuant to its mandate. Consistent with an evolutionary approach, this indicator will compile administrative data from existing international mechanisms mandated by member States to monitor the state of implementation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. These mechanisms receive complaints concerning attacks on journalists, trade unionists and human rights defenders from a variety of primary and secondary sources. They have global geographical coverage. More importantly, these mechanisms invariably verify the information they receive by checking against other information obtained from independent and reliable sources, and apply a standard of proof based on “reasonable grounds to believe”. It is envisaged that in succeeding stages national and regional mechanisms will start contributing their own data. Appropriate legal, policy, operational and technical frameworks will have to be established to regulate the level and manner of access to their data collections. In particular, the role of National Statistics Offices (NSOs) vis-à-vis National Human Rights Institutions and other potential data sources at national level in terms of data flows and reporting will need to be further defined, based on emerging good practices. Figure 1: Existing and potential data sources Existing United Nations Data Sources • UN Special Procedures • IPDC-UNESCO report on journalists killings • OCHHR monitoring work • Press releases and statements of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights • Other reports and publications, such as the UN Secretary-General's report on reprisals Existing and Potential OHCHR Data Sources Other Potential Data Sources • Data from the Treaty Bodies reporting system • Cases reviewed by the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) and other data from ILO's monitoring work • Regional mechanisms • National Human Rights Institutions • National monitoring and protection mechanisms • Justice sector institutions • National Statistical offices as coordinators of national statistical systems Stages of data collection Data on a specific case will be collected by OHCHR and its partner agencies from a data source after the case is first reported to (or taken cognizance of by) and verified by the latter. Case-specific data will then be integrated into a single dataset. In contrast to this approach, which has been referred to 9