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to underreporting and inaccurate data, it is based on the important notion that the
State should not impose an identity on the individual. Concerning privacy, the
Special Rapporteur stressed that ethnically disaggregated data should always be
collected with the explicit consent of the concerned individuals and take into
account data protection regulations and privacy guarantees. On the principle of
involvement, the Special Rapporteur emphasized the need to consult all concerned
groups in all stages of the exercise, including design and implementation. Such
involvement would help to build confidence between the authorities and the
concerned groups and would also lead to better survey design. Moreover,
involvement should also be understood as providing the right to members of
vulnerable groups to be informed about the results of data collection and about the
effectiveness of the anti-discrimination legislation, policies and programmes in
place.
56. The Special Rapporteur made a number of recommendations related to the
collection of ethnically disaggregated data. Among others, he recommended that
States collect these data and indicators to design legislation, policies, programmes
and other measures aiming at promoting equality and eliminating racial
discrimination and that States use such data to assess and monitor the effectiveness
of the measures taken and to review them in case of disproportionate effect on
certain ethnic groups. In doing so, the Special Rapporteur called upon States to
respect the principles of privacy, self-identification and involvement of all
communities. He also recommended that ethnically disaggregated data be used in
legal proceedings as evidence for proving discrimination and that adequate human
and financial resources be provided by States to establish or strengthen national
institutions which collect, analyse, and disseminate reliable ethnically disaggregated
data and indicators.
E.
Racism and sports
57. The issue of racism and sports was addressed by the Special Rapporteur at an
event commemorating the International Day on the Elimination of Racial
Discrimination, which was organized by the Office of the United Nations High
Commissioner for Human Rights on 19 March 2010, in Geneva, Switzerland. 11
58. On that occasion, the Special Rapporteur recalled that fighting racism requires
more than the enactment of anti-discrimination laws; overcoming racism also
requires addressing public and private attitudes which comfort, justify and
perpetuate racism at all levels and in all areas of life. To that effect, he stressed that
approaches which have the ability to get the message across in a simple and
powerful manner are more than ever necessary to encourage as many people as
possible to engage in this fight. In the context of the year 2010, which has been
marked by mass sports events followed by a large public audience, the Special
Rapporteur stated that promoting the message of tolerance and non-discrimination
through sport may constitute one of the approaches needed.
59. As recognized by the General Assembly, sport has the potential to contribute to
an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding. While relying on the concepts of
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