we’re surrounded by data this gives us the impression that we know about the
the impression that we know about the
the impression that we know about the world more than we ever did before and
world more than we ever did before and
world more than we ever did before and that everything we have data for is more
that everything we have data for is more
that everything we have data for is more certain more tangible but once we have
certain more tangible but once we have
certain more tangible but once we have data we rarely questioned what it makes
data we rarely questioned what it makes
data we rarely questioned what it makes it what what it makes invisible while
it what what it makes invisible while
it what what it makes invisible while making other things visible I’m a
making other things visible I’m a
making other things visible I’m a sociologist and I’m interested in
sociologist and I’m interested in
sociologist and I’m interested in studying people who go missing in data I
studying people who go missing in data I
studying people who go missing in data I do not mean missing in the sense that
do not mean missing in the sense that
do not mean missing in the sense that they don’t get counted though sometimes
they don’t get counted though sometimes
they don’t get counted though sometimes this is the case but missing in
this is the case but missing in
this is the case but missing in categories missing in representation I’m
categories missing in representation I’m
categories missing in representation I’m interested in studying this both from
interested in studying this both from
interested in studying this both from the point of the people who think their
the point of the people who think their
the point of the people who think their voices do not get hurt or they do not
voices do not get hurt or they do not
voices do not get hurt or they do not fit in today tiny categories in the
fit in today tiny categories in the
fit in today tiny categories in the survey forms but I’m also interested in
survey forms but I’m also interested in
survey forms but I’m also interested in studying this from the point of the data
studying this from the point of the data
studying this from the point of the data producers who talk about groups that are
producers who talk about groups that are
producers who talk about groups that are difficult to count and characteristics
difficult to count and characteristics
difficult to count and characteristics that are difficult to account for but
that are difficult to account for but
that are difficult to account for but sometimes even the most trivial and the
sometimes even the most trivial and the
sometimes even the most trivial and the most mundane may be uncertain and data
most mundane may be uncertain and data
most mundane may be uncertain and data in many ways my own personal story has
in many ways my own personal story has
in many ways my own personal story has been learning about the uncertainties in
been learning about the uncertainties in
been learning about the uncertainties in what seemed like certainties um I come
what seemed like certainties um I come
what seemed like certainties um I come from Turkey and although we do have a
from Turkey and although we do have a
from Turkey and although we do have a registration system in our family there
registration system in our family there
registration system in our family there are three people whose birth dates we’re
are three people whose birth dates we’re
are three people whose birth dates we’re not so sure about and this is my
not so sure about and this is my
not so sure about and this is my grandmother my father and my aunt they
grandmother my father and my aunt they
grandmother my father and my aunt they were all registered at a point when they
were all registered at a point when they
were all registered at a point when they needed to my grandmother was a
needed to my grandmother was a
needed to my grandmother was a registered before she got married and my
registered before she got married and my
registered before she got married and my father was registered before he started
father was registered before he started
father was registered before he started school and my aunt was registered just
school and my aunt was registered just
school and my aunt was registered just because my father was being registered
because my father was being registered
because my father was being registered but we don’t know about the exact
but we don’t know about the exact
but we don’t know about the exact birthdate month or year we have an
birthdate month or year we have an
birthdate month or year we have an estimate that looks like a certainty in
estimate that looks like a certainty in
estimate that looks like a certainty in data I’ll come back to this point paying
data I’ll come back to this point paying
data I’ll come back to this point paying attention to uncertainties are important
attention to uncertainties are important
attention to uncertainties are important because once social realities are made
because once social realities are made
because once social realities are made into
into
into later it becomes difficult to undo their
later it becomes difficult to undo their
later it becomes difficult to undo their impact and leave the lenses behind leave
impact and leave the lenses behind leave
impact and leave the lenses behind leave the lenses data gives us behind this
the lenses data gives us behind this
the lenses data gives us behind this might sound like an obvious point to
might sound like an obvious point to
might sound like an obvious point to make but we often do not see have the
make but we often do not see have the
make but we often do not see have the cultural social and other political
cultural social and other political
cultural social and other political codes enter our data one important
codes enter our data one important
codes enter our data one important example of this is refugee statistics
example of this is refugee statistics
example of this is refugee statistics refugee statistics are widely quoted but
refugee statistics are widely quoted but
refugee statistics are widely quoted but notoriously inaccurate the so-called
notoriously inaccurate the so-called
notoriously inaccurate the so-called refugee crisis has been a hot topic for
refugee crisis has been a hot topic for
refugee crisis has been a hot topic for almost five years now the information we
almost five years now the information we
almost five years now the information we get in popular media about refugees and
get in popular media about refugees and
get in popular media about refugees and about migrants is at best puzzling on
about migrants is at best puzzling on
about migrants is at best puzzling on the one hand it’s a crisis made by the
the one hand it’s a crisis made by the
the one hand it’s a crisis made by the unmanageable T of numbers but on the
unmanageable T of numbers but on the
unmanageable T of numbers but on the other hand it’s an humanitarian crisis
other hand it’s an humanitarian crisis
other hand it’s an humanitarian crisis made by the same very large numbers but
made by the same very large numbers but
made by the same very large numbers but most often when you compare numbers
most often when you compare numbers
most often when you compare numbers across news newspapers official accounts
across news newspapers official accounts
across news newspapers official accounts numbers really match if at all it also
numbers really match if at all it also
numbers really match if at all it also becomes confusing a trace who sites
becomes confusing a trace who sites
becomes confusing a trace who sites whose data and based on what definitions
whose data and based on what definitions
whose data and based on what definitions and estimations the question of who’s a
and estimations the question of who’s a
and estimations the question of who’s a refugee become opaque in data with
refugee become opaque in data with
refugee become opaque in data with value-laden statements about who is
value-laden statements about who is
value-laden statements about who is deserving and who is not deserving and
deserving and who is not deserving and
deserving and who is not deserving and how we can clinically verify deserving
how we can clinically verify deserving
how we can clinically verify deserving pneus when for instance we talk about
pneus when for instance we talk about
pneus when for instance we talk about child refugees the difference between
child refugees the difference between
child refugees the difference between age 18 and age 19 gained profound
age 18 and age 19 gained profound
age 18 and age 19 gained profound importance calculation mistakes of
importance calculation mistakes of
importance calculation mistakes of registration personal or unknown or
registration personal or unknown or
registration personal or unknown or unprovable birth dates then become
unprovable birth dates then become
unprovable birth dates then become evidence for undeserving pneus of the
evidence for undeserving pneus of the
evidence for undeserving pneus of the refugee status can we ever then talk
refugee status can we ever then talk
refugee status can we ever then talk about accurate refugee statistics to
about accurate refugee statistics to
about accurate refugee statistics to talk about accuracy of refugee
talk about accuracy of refugee
talk about accuracy of refugee statistics we need to understand the
statistics we need to understand the
statistics we need to understand the interests in ames behind collecting them
interests in ames behind collecting them
interests in ames behind collecting them there are multiple reasons for
there are multiple reasons for
there are multiple reasons for collecting refugee statistics the most
collecting refugee statistics the most
collecting refugee statistics the most common being the allocation of resources
common being the allocation of resources
common being the allocation of resources in any refugee crisis knowing or at
in any refugee crisis knowing or at
in any refugee crisis knowing or at least estimating the number of people
least estimating the number of people
least estimating the number of people involved is one of the first steps in
involved is one of the first steps in
involved is one of the first steps in determining responses to the situation
determining responses to the situation
determining responses to the situation neighborhood countries might set up camp
neighborhood countries might set up camp
neighborhood countries might set up camp humanitarian agencies might organize
humanitarian agencies might organize
humanitarian agencies might organize emergency aids and international bodies
emergency aids and international bodies
emergency aids and international bodies might evaluate the situation to come up
might evaluate the situation to come up
might evaluate the situation to come up with appropriate responses and these all
with appropriate responses and these all
with appropriate responses and these all require data they all require numbers
require data they all require numbers
require data they all require numbers but then once these data are made they
but then once these data are made they
but then once these data are made they are taken as evidence as for everything
are taken as evidence as for everything
are taken as evidence as for everything and the allocation of refugees to
and the allocation of refugees to
and the allocation of refugees to individual countries all humanitarian
individual countries all humanitarian
individual countries all humanitarian aid are then made from those numbers
aid are then made from those numbers
aid are then made from those numbers although the reasons for collecting
although the reasons for collecting
although the reasons for collecting refugee statistics might seem
refugee statistics might seem
refugee statistics might seem straightforward the actual task of who
straightforward the actual task of who
straightforward the actual task of who should be counted as refugee is not very
should be counted as refugee is not very
should be counted as refugee is not very obvious first we have the problem of
obvious first we have the problem of
obvious first we have the problem of definitions who is a refugee while there
definitions who is a refugee while there
definitions who is a refugee while there are international agreements most
are international agreements most
are international agreements most notably the 1951 Geneva Convention which
notably the 1951 Geneva Convention which
notably the 1951 Geneva Convention which gets frequently cited the disagreements
gets frequently cited the disagreements
gets frequently cited the disagreements in the interpretation application and
in the interpretation application and
in the interpretation application and limitations imposed on this convent
limitations imposed on this convent
limitations imposed on this convent convention based on owned by individual
convention based on owned by individual
convention based on owned by individual countries rarely get discussed as a
countries rarely get discussed as a
countries rarely get discussed as a result we deal with multiplicity of
result we deal with multiplicity of
result we deal with multiplicity of categories multiplicity of definitions
categories multiplicity of definitions
categories multiplicity of definitions seconds statistics are gathered by
seconds statistics are gathered by
seconds statistics are gathered by technocratic means and there are usually
technocratic means and there are usually
technocratic means and there are usually many bodies involved which sometimes do
many bodies involved which sometimes do
many bodies involved which sometimes do not agree on who should be included in
not agree on who should be included in
not agree on who should be included in the definition this is why it is
the definition this is why it is
the definition this is why it is possible to hear about three different
possible to hear about three different
possible to hear about three different counts from the same countries different
counts from the same countries different
counts from the same countries different institutions as well as three different
institutions as well as three different
institutions as well as three different organizations working within the same
organizations working within the same
organizations working within the same country and coming up with different
country and coming up with different
country and coming up with different numbers refugee statistics are therefore
numbers refugee statistics are therefore
numbers refugee statistics are therefore an arena of struggle and reflect
an arena of struggle and reflect
an arena of struggle and reflect interests of the parties involved
interests of the parties involved
interests of the parties involved putting a definition definitional issues
putting a definition definitional issues
putting a definition definitional issues aside there are also multiple and
aside there are also multiple and
aside there are also multiple and sometimes conflicting conflicting
sometimes conflicting conflicting
sometimes conflicting conflicting interests in including and excluding or
interests in including and excluding or
interests in including and excluding or in seeking to be included or excluded
in seeking to be included or excluded
in seeking to be included or excluded from refugee statistics refugees for
from refugee statistics refugees for
from refugee statistics refugees for instance might seek to be counted if
instance might seek to be counted if
instance might seek to be counted if being counted involves assistance and
being counted involves assistance and
being counted involves assistance and security but why the same logic they
security but why the same logic they
security but why the same logic they might seek to defer being counted until
might seek to defer being counted until
might seek to defer being counted until they reach a destination where they can
they reach a destination where they can
they reach a destination where they can access security and and assistance
access security and and assistance
access security and and assistance convention status or the refugee status
convention status or the refugee status
convention status or the refugee status is a special status with an Internet
is a special status with an Internet
is a special status with an Internet law and grants important rights and
law and grants important rights and
law and grants important rights and privileges to those who receive it
privileges to those who receive it
privileges to those who receive it however not all asylum applications are
however not all asylum applications are
however not all asylum applications are successful and this might be a reason
successful and this might be a reason
successful and this might be a reason for going missing in data in other cases
for going missing in data in other cases
for going missing in data in other cases refugees might be exaggerating their
refugees might be exaggerating their
refugees might be exaggerating their household sizes so that they gain as
household sizes so that they gain as
household sizes so that they gain as much assistance as possible to help
much assistance as possible to help
much assistance as possible to help those who they know that they will not
those who they know that they will not
those who they know that they will not be able to get the same assistance the
be able to get the same assistance the
be able to get the same assistance the possibility of doing DS is higher in
possibility of doing DS is higher in
possibility of doing DS is higher in some context than others but the main
some context than others but the main
some context than others but the main issue here is that people do shape their
issue here is that people do shape their
issue here is that people do shape their existence in data if and whenever they
existence in data if and whenever they
existence in data if and whenever they can host sites might also have their own
can host sites might also have their own
can host sites might also have their own reasons for counting refugees and their
reasons for counting refugees and their
reasons for counting refugees and their own techniques the arrival of refugees
own techniques the arrival of refugees
own techniques the arrival of refugees without any resources and in need of
without any resources and in need of
without any resources and in need of immediate assistance is a big challenge
immediate assistance is a big challenge
immediate assistance is a big challenge for all countries especially the poor
for all countries especially the poor
for all countries especially the poor neighboring countries and conflict zones
neighboring countries and conflict zones
neighboring countries and conflict zones given that whatever assistance the
given that whatever assistance the
given that whatever assistance the states will be getting will be in direct
states will be getting will be in direct
states will be getting will be in direct proportion to the refugees they’re
proportion to the refugees they’re
proportion to the refugees they’re hosting they might be inflating their
hosting they might be inflating their
hosting they might be inflating their numbers but the same countries might
numbers but the same countries might
numbers but the same countries might also be reducing the numbers they report
also be reducing the numbers they report
also be reducing the numbers they report if they won’t if they would like to give
if they won’t if they would like to give
if they won’t if they would like to give the impression that displaced people
the impression that displaced people
the impression that displaced people that the situation is not long-term and
that the situation is not long-term and
that the situation is not long-term and a displacement will not be for a long
a displacement will not be for a long
a displacement will not be for a long time and the people are expected to go
time and the people are expected to go
time and the people are expected to go back to their countries and
back to their countries and
back to their countries and international and international
international and international
international and international humanitarian agencies might have their
humanitarian agencies might have their
humanitarian agencies might have their own reasons with refugee statistics
own reasons with refugee statistics
own reasons with refugee statistics especially if they are funded by
especially if they are funded by
especially if they are funded by donations and do not have stable sources
donations and do not have stable sources
donations and do not have stable sources of income given that their success rates
of income given that their success rates
of income given that their success rates are based on how they manage the numbers
are based on how they manage the numbers
are based on how they manage the numbers they might increase or reduce their
they might increase or reduce their
they might increase or reduce their numbers to prove that their day they are
numbers to prove that their day they are
numbers to prove that their day they are funding has been successful or not own
funding has been successful or not own
funding has been successful or not own has been successful and last but not
has been successful and last but not
has been successful and last but not least one thing we don’t necessarily
least one thing we don’t necessarily
least one thing we don’t necessarily hear about when we discuss refugee
hear about when we discuss refugee
hear about when we discuss refugee statistics is the ethics of data
statistics is the ethics of data
statistics is the ethics of data collection when we talk about official
collection when we talk about official
collection when we talk about official statistics we expect that people’s data
statistics we expect that people’s data
statistics we expect that people’s data are protected and they are treated
are protected and they are treated
are protected and they are treated fairly and ethically throughout the data
fairly and ethically throughout the data
fairly and ethically throughout the data collection we also expect that
collection we also expect that
collection we also expect that enumerators and interviewers are
enumerators and interviewers are
enumerators and interviewers are safe and they do not experience any harm
safe and they do not experience any harm
safe and they do not experience any harm however in the context of refugee
however in the context of refugee
however in the context of refugee security concerns are a really important
security concerns are a really important
security concerns are a really important important so does the country’s allowing
important so does the country’s allowing
important so does the country’s allowing independent enumerators to come in and
independent enumerators to come in and
independent enumerators to come in and observe and count and make their
observe and count and make their
observe and count and make their estimates it is not impossible to
estimates it is not impossible to
estimates it is not impossible to imagine that in certain contexts when
imagine that in certain contexts when
imagine that in certain contexts when the conflict is still going and the
the conflict is still going and the
the conflict is still going and the places are not safe same persons might
places are not safe same persons might
places are not safe same persons might be counted double and some people might
be counted double and some people might
be counted double and some people might not be counted at all and it’s also
not be counted at all and it’s also
not be counted at all and it’s also possible to imagine that there might be
possible to imagine that there might be
possible to imagine that there might be a rough estimates about people’s
a rough estimates about people’s
a rough estimates about people’s characteristics such as their age
characteristics such as their age
characteristics such as their age educational attainment occupation or
educational attainment occupation or
educational attainment occupation or country of origin seeing a number is not
country of origin seeing a number is not
country of origin seeing a number is not the same as hearing someone’s story and
the same as hearing someone’s story and
the same as hearing someone’s story and among all the uncertainties of refugees
among all the uncertainties of refugees
among all the uncertainties of refugees statistics it is easy to get caught up
statistics it is easy to get caught up
statistics it is easy to get caught up with making statistics more accurate but
with making statistics more accurate but
with making statistics more accurate but forgetting the very conditions that make
forgetting the very conditions that make
forgetting the very conditions that make refugee statistics so uncertain the
refugee statistics so uncertain the
refugee statistics so uncertain the story of Island Corday the boy who
story of Island Corday the boy who
story of Island Corday the boy who washed ashore in Turkey was a breaking
washed ashore in Turkey was a breaking
washed ashore in Turkey was a breaking point in that regard or the survival
point in that regard or the survival
point in that regard or the survival story of Noah from a sunk boat which
story of Noah from a sunk boat which
story of Noah from a sunk boat which cost lives to 500 people from mare
cost lives to 500 people from mare
cost lives to 500 people from mare numbers refugees became suddenly lives
numbers refugees became suddenly lives
numbers refugees became suddenly lives with past and lost possible features it
with past and lost possible features it
with past and lost possible features it is important to pay attention to what we
is important to pay attention to what we
is important to pay attention to what we lose when we reduce the stories two
lose when we reduce the stories two
lose when we reduce the stories two numbers we’re also rounded by data more
numbers we’re also rounded by data more
numbers we’re also rounded by data more than ever before and we have access to
than ever before and we have access to
than ever before and we have access to information more than we ever before but
information more than we ever before but
information more than we ever before but we need to start talking about the
we need to start talking about the
we need to start talking about the missing persons and the missing stories
missing persons and the missing stories
missing persons and the missing stories in our data looking at refugee
in our data looking at refugee
in our data looking at refugee statistics is just one way of doing that
statistics is just one way of doing that
statistics is just one way of doing that it’s only when our worlds intersect with
it’s only when our worlds intersect with
it’s only when our worlds intersect with the stories we do not say and listen on
the stories we do not say and listen on
the stories we do not say and listen on a usual basis then we can imagine all
a usual basis then we can imagine all
a usual basis then we can imagine all the possible worlds and perhaps much
the possible worlds and perhaps much
the possible worlds and perhaps much better ones thank you
better ones thank you
better ones thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Music]
”
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