Inclusive data: better data and evidence to understand the lives, circumstances and needs of children and young people from

2.1 Data exclusion and systematic gaps in data and evidence on the lives, experiences and needs of people from the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities ‘Data exclusion’ is the phenomenon whereby some of the most disadvantaged and marginalised groups of people in the UK remain systematically ‘missing’ from, or ‘invisible’ within, national data infrastructure, statistics and evidence. [...] The extent, importance and implications of systematic data and evidence gaps affecting the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities and the public policy consequences of these gaps has been regularly highlighted in civil society organisation research and advocacy and equality and human rights monitoring and reporting over many years and has been recognised in key high-level inquiries and initiatives. [...] The issue of non- disclosure of Gypsy, Traveller and Roma identity was identified in the key findings of the Women and Equalities Committee Report on tackling Gypsy, Traveller and Roma inequalities (discussed below) and is a key theme in existing research and civil society organisation analysis (discussed in section 3.2) and in the feedback from the engagement workshops undertaken in the context o. [...] Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the extent of systematic data and evidence gaps was recognised in several initiatives including in a major report on tackling inequalities facing the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities by the Women and Equalities Select Committee; in the findings of the Race Disparities Audit; and in a series of child vulnerability assessments undertaken by the Office of the Chil. [...] 24 2.2.1 Findings of the Women and Equalities Committee (2019) report on tackling Gypsy, Traveller and Roma inequalities The extent of the data and evidence gaps affecting the Gypsy, Traveller and Roma communities was brought to the fore by a major report on tackling inequalities facing the communities by the Women and Equalities Committee in 2019.