A/70/335 populations and enhance measurement of discrimination and inequalities, both within and between countries. 82. The post-2015 development agenda emphasizes the need to commit further to combating discrimination and inequality. Target 10.3 of the proposed sustainable development goals calls for greater equality within and between cou ntries through the elimination of discriminatory laws, policies and practices, while target 17.18 reflects the need to strengthen the means of implementation, including enhancing the collection of data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts. 83. The Special Rapporteur would like to emphasize that the collection of disaggregated data along the prohibited grounds of discrimination should b e systematically conducted in all countries, while observing the necessary human rights safeguards. As highlighted throughout the present report, disaggregated data is essential for assessing levels of discrimination and inequality and to ensure that everyone is accounted for in any development progress. VI. Conclusions and recommendations 84. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the efforts made at the international, regional and national levels to develop normative frameworks for the collection and protection of personal data. He also takes note of the progress made in including questions on ethnicity in censuses across the world. However, the systematic collection of ethnically disaggregated data remains the exception rather than the norm and is often posited as a discretionary measure. The Special Rapporteur urges States to establish legal and institutional frameworks for the periodic collection of ethnically disaggregated data, with a view to highlighting the existence and extent of discrimination, in compliance with their international legal obligations. Ethnically disaggregated data is a necessary tool in gathering evidence of occurrences of racial discrimination; evaluating the situation of groups that are discriminated against; assessing the effectiveness of the measures taken; monitoring progress made; and deciding on special measures to correct the situation. Disaggregated data are essential to meaningful prevention and enforcement, and key to setting up evidence-based targets and designing appropriate and effective anti-discrimination legislation, policies and programmes. 85. While the Special Rapporteur strongly advocates for the establishment by States of a specific mandate for the collection of personal data, with a view to assessing levels of discrimination and implementing adequate policies, he also stresses the need for strong legal provisions on data protection and confidentiality, which are the necessary safeguards for observing the right to privacy and protecting individuals. Moreover, ethical safeguards, such as the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics and the Declaration on Professional Ethics of the International Statistical Institute, should be adopted and enforced, with a view to creating national institutional frameworks that will prevent the misuse of data. 86. The Special Rapporteur recalls the importance of establishing participatory data-collection activities. National human rights institutions and 22/24 15-14106