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Network Group on Information and Data Co-ordination

D R A F T :1 OBJECTIVEMore systematic and reliable data collection and information sharing aims at facilitating humanitarian and development co-operation programs and Mine Action, delivering base line data and quantifying the impact on the public health and reintegration systems, the human and socio-economic development and the daily life of people and communities. Surveillance and data collection on victims is not an objective per se but is a part of an integrated, national policy to prevent and assist victims. 2 RECOMMENDATIONSImproving Data Collection and establishing a clearing house/platform for information exchange can not be achieved in a short time. Substantial human and financial inputs are needed. Data collection in the victim area is considered even more complex and challenging than for demining purposes. <table cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">
</td><td>National ownership and capacity building are principles to be followed regarding data collection and information exchange. This permits to adapt methodologies to the reality in the affected countries, which should receive methodological support rather than solutions. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top">
</td><td>Data collection has to produce timely and, reliable quantitative and qualitative information. Mine Action oriented data collection is advanced compared to development aspects of victim assistance. Three different kinds of data collection can be distinguished. </td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td> 
</td><td valign="top">a) </td><td valign="top"> 
</td><td>New incidents should be covered by an adapted health information system producing simple and rapid information and as part of the IMSMA. National ownership as well as central storage of the data should be guaranteed. </td></tr><tr><td> 
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</td><td valign="top">> </td><td>Support the further development (standards and methodologies) and implementation of the WHO integrated surveillance system on victim and traumas in a gender des-aggregated form. </td></tr><tr><td> 
</td><td valign="top"> 
</td><td valign="top">> </td><td>GICHD, WHO, ICRC, PHR and others should further develop, and the countries implement the IMSMA accident incident module under the auspices of the UNMAS. Due to the complexity, the further extension of the IMSMA into the development aspects of VA is currently not perceived as a priority. </td></tr><tr><td> 
</td><td valign="top">b) </td><td valign="top"> 
</td><td>Collecting information through surveys at the rehabilitation centres allows tracing most of the victims and over a long time horizon, monitoring quantitatively and qualitatively the services. </td></tr><tr><td> 
</td><td valign="top">c) </td><td valign="top"> 
</td><td>Family and community aspects, socio-economic impacts, mine awareness and information about those excluded by public and private services should be addressed through surveys. </td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">
</td><td>UMMAS should in its regular missions assess the quality and the situation of the current surveillance systems in affected countries and structure their analysis regarding VA based on recommendation of the ISCE VA. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top">
</td><td>The Land Mine Monitor chapter on Victim Assistance should duly take into consideration the structure of the integrated, comprehensive VA approach, elaborated by the ISCE VA. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top">
</td><td>NGO’s, Governments, IO’s etc. are encouraged to share their information at country level with the locally established bodies (Intersectorial Committees, MAC, Health Authorities etc.) and make them public. Governments of affected countries and organisations are encouraged to establish web sites on VA. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top">
</td><td>To promote transparency a platform or clearinghouse for exchange, dissemination and information should be established. Concretely: (i) collecting and disseminating standards and methodologies of data collection including questionnaires, (ii) supporting affected countries in establishing national platforms and linking national platforms to the international level, (iii) promoting the exchange of research (iv) linking existing information about victims. The GICHD and/or the WHO are proposed to assume this task. </td></tr><tr><td valign="top">
</td><td>Create donor co-ordination mechanism where data collection and impacts can be discussed regularly and in a transparent manner. </td></tr></tbody></table>