Practices by Stakeholder 1

Aggregated data and research on migration trends and demographics

Aggregated information on migration trends and migrant demographics can inform preparedness and responses. Data and research could include:

• Purpose of migration;
• Routes of migration;
• Nature and characteristics of citizens leaving States of origin;
• Nature and characteristics of migrants in host States;
• Quantitative and qualitative data and analysis;
• Presence and operation of trafficking and smuggling networks.

Information on migrant community profiles and migrant and diaspora networks and focal points

Detailed information on the profiles of migrant communities, networks, and focal points can inform preparedness, including contingency planning, and facilitate outreach, communication, and targeted responses. Information to gather could include:

• Geographic distribution of migrants in host States;
• Nationality, ethnicity, and linguistic compositions of migrants in specific localities;
• Potential conditions of vulnerability, including gender, age, disability, immigration status, language capabilities, and working conditions;
• Geographic distribution, skills, and characteristics of diaspora;
• Formal and informal migrant and diaspora networks;
• Information on migrant and diaspora community leaders.

Applicable standards on data protection and privacy

Collection and use of data requires special attention to data protection and privacy, including measures regarding personal consent from those providing the data, as appropriate. Guidance on data collection and use should address issues, such as lawful collection of information, specified and legitimate purposes, consent, confidentiality, transfer to third parties, data security, retention, oversight, compliance, remedies for misuse of data, and storage of data in secure physical facilities, including if collected electronically, in encrypted files on secure servers.

Arrangements to share aggregated data on migrant populations

Sharing aggregated data can be a useful way to ensure that all stakeholders have accurate, up-to-date information on migrants, their general location, and their needs. Arrangements to share such data could include provisions on: 

• The circumstances under which information will be shared;
• The format of the aggregated data to be shared (e.g., tables, maps, graphs, and narratives);
• How regularly data will be updated;
• Circumstances in which special data runs will be aggregated on demand;
• Exceptions to the sharing of aggregated data (e.g., when the numbers in a particular location are too small to allow for anonymity);
• Accepted purposes for which the aggregated data will be used.

Publicly available aggregated data States, international organizations, and civil society collect data on migration trends, migrant demographics, and migrant communities.

Making aggregated data available to all can ensure common understandings among stakeholders of the size and nature of migrant communities.