Proposal for a code of good practice in statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean and implementation plan for 2012-2013

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The production of official statistics calls for responsibility and commitment on the part of the competent agencies. Thus, credible statistics and reliable national statistical institutes and other members of the national statistical system are vital assets since they are essential to the design, formulation, monitoring and assessment of Government plans and programmes.This credibility is a value that gains strength over time thanks to the generation of quality statistics that comply with standards, principles and norms relating to the production process and statistical activity as a whole.International recommendations and guidelines have been drawn up in order to build more robust national statistical institutes within the national statistical system and apply fundamental principles and good practices which will result in qualitative improvements.International guidelines have been adapted and compiled into a draft Code of Good Practice in Statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean, the aim being to improve the quality of statistical output and build trust in national statistical institutes and enhance the comparability of regional statistics.1 The draft Code seeks to strengthen the institutional framework and the procedures and products necessary for obtaining quality statistics.Once the Code of Good Practice has been adopted, the Working Group on Institution-building shall disseminate it and assist all the institutes in the region in implementing it, with a view to ensuring overall compliance with all the basic requirements for the production of reliable, quality regional statistics.This report is divided into five sections. The first presents the background to the preparation of the Code of Good Practice in Statistics in Latin America and the Caribbean; the second describes the ambit, scope and objectives of the Code; the third examines the methodology used in the design and formulation process; the fourth lists the principles and criteria for compliance and the last section sets out the proposal for the strategic implementation plan.