January 2019: The Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR) has released an updated version of its SDG-Human Rights Data Explorer, which allows users to explore the links between human rights and the SDGs. The database aims to promote a more coherent, systematic framework for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as well as to facilitate follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda.

DIHR released an experimental version of the database in April 2018 and launched an updated version in January 2019. The database uses an algorithm to automatically identify links between the SDG targets and over 150,000 recommendations and observations from international human rights mechanisms, including the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), UN Treaty Bodies and the Special Procedures under the UN Human Rights Council (HRC).

Users can explore recommendations in relation to all 17 SDGs and 169 targets to help identify priority areas for national SDG action plans, measures to tackle discrimination and exclusion, and vulnerable groups that may require additional support. Recommendations can be sorted by country and region, rights-holder groups (children, internally displaced persons, migrants, women and girls, human rights defenders, LGBTI, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, members of minorities, refugees and asylum seekers), specific SDGs and monitoring mechanisms.

Over 92% of the SDGs’ 169 targets are linked to human rights and labor standards, according to DIHR’s analysis.

For the SDGs under review at the 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the database identifies 7,985 recommendations linked to SDG 4 (quality education), including 3,744 from UPR and 3,805 from treaty bodies. For SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), the database lists 10,085 recommendations, including 4,678 from UPR and 4,763 from treaty bodies. SDG 10 (reduced inequalities) has 10,732 linked recommendations. The database identifies 393 total recommendations linked to SDG 13 (climate action), including 180 from the UPR. There are 30,519 recommendations related to SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), including 15,582 from the UPR, 2,595 from special procedures and 12,342 from treaty bodies. On SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals), the database lists 4,973 recommendations.

According to analysis from the DIHR, over 92% of the SDG targets are linked to human rights and labor standards, underscoring the importance of analysis, data and recommendations of human rights monitoring bodies and mechanisms for realizing human rights obligations as well as the SDG commitments. DIHR emphasizes that operationalizing the links between the SDGs and human rights, and using human rights recommendations in national SDG strategies can help increase accountability, strengthen policy coherence and efficiency, and contribute to ensuring that no one is left behind.

UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore has said the SDG-Human Rights Data Explorer provides useful guidance in implementing and monitoring the 2030 Agenda. She explained that the tool “helps to bring data and recommendations produced through the human rights mechanisms to new and relevant stakeholders.” [DIHR Press Release] [SDG-Human Rights Data Explorer]