CHAPTER 3 DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS At the same time, data protection should be balanced with the public’s right to information, which means that the aggregated and properly anonymised data should be made publicly accessible to ensure transparency.26 This may sometimes require anonymisation of certain data, for instance very small numbers that may allow re-identifying an individual as not many people share the same feature (set of features). Although not a common practice, several stakeholders provided anonymised data under the Global Study questionnaire by using less-than operators, e.g. instead of reporting exact number of children in detention, the number <10 was reported.27 At the same time, State agencies should ensure that appropriately anonymised microdata28 is made available to academics, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate the development of accountability mechanisms29 such as the World Prison Brief (in the field of administration of justice).30 2.4 Self-Identification and the Role of Parents (Primary Caregivers) As legal guardians, parents take decisions on the engagement of children in data collection, considering their developmental level and informational self-determination. The role of parents (primary caregivers) is particularly important in situations where the child is unable to provide comprehensive information due to disability, illiteracy, lack of appropriate language skills or developmental level. Nevertheless, data should always be recorded in line with Article 12 of the CRC31 and the principle of self-identification that allows capturing a child’s unique personal identity characteristics.32 This means that whenever possible, information should be obtained directly from the child. Application of this principle may sometimes require certain flexibility in data collection procedures, e.g. by providing separate child-friendly questionnaires, tailoring interview settings to the child’s age and developmental level as well as providing adequate training to the interviewers. 26 OHCHR (2018), op. cit., p. 14. As aggregation and anonymisation does not necessarily guarantee adequate privacy protection, datasets containing personal information need to be thoroughly examined before release into public domain. See: Joseph A. Cannataci, Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy (2018), A/73/45712, 17 October 2018, para. 67. 27 Global Study questionnaire: Australia (State reply), Netherlands (State reply). 28 Microdata refers to data on the characteristics of individuals, households or other units collected within the particular survey, census or research. 29 OHCHR (2018), op. cit., p. 19. 30 Institute for Criminal Policy Research/Birkbeck University of London, World Prison Brief, Available at https://www.prisonstudies.org/ (accessed 15 September 2019). 31 According to Article 12 of the CRC, ‘States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.’ 32 OHCHR (2018), op. cit., p. 11. 48