8 May 2024 - Champions of a fairer and more inclusive future convened at UN Headquarters on 6 May for the SDG 16 High-Level Conference 2024 – Peace, justice and inclusive societies for sustainable development. The Conference served as a timely occasion to review and identify ways to urgently advance Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, a lynchpin to the 2030 Agenda, by addressing persistent and growing challenges, in particular conflict, inequality, corruption and failure to respect human rights.
The Conference featured high-level speakers, including the President of the Republic of Italy, H. E. Mr. Sergio Mattarella. “We need to work to make our societies more cohesive and just, expanding the civic and political spaces of participation so as to include all components of societies. We need to make institutions, at every level, more inclusive and more representative: ultimately strengthening the “social contract” between peoples and institutions,” said President Mattarella as he opened the Conference.
H. E. Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, underscored that the positive impacts of SDG 16 must reach where they are needed most. “SDG 16 is not only critical to the success of the 2030 Agenda, it is also critical to achieving the right to development, upon which economic, social, political and cultural advancement of all people depends. Looking around the world today, we see these ideals grow more distant by the day. Conflict and violence are rampant, with women and children bearing the brunt,” she said.
SDG 16 is both a stand-alone Goal and an enabler and accelerator of all other SDGs. It is at the heart of what makes the 2030 Agenda transformative, and has a vital role in addressing multiple global crises, including conflict, lack of trust in public institutions and climate change.
To address these challenges, Mr. Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, called upon participants to prevent conflict and advance cooperation and confidence between people and Governments. He noted, “I encourage you, in your exchanges, to explore strategies for addressing the root causes of conflicts, preventing and reducing violence and promoting inclusivity, to pave the way for more peaceful societies. I also welcome your perspective on opportunities for building more inclusive societies that support trust among people and between people and their institutions.”
Ms. Jan Beagle, Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), further highlighted the role of SDG 16 as a framework to advance key whole-of-society approaches to sustainable development. “SDG 16 can help ensure fairness, accountability and transparency, giving people confidence that institutions are working in the interests of all, rather than a privileged few. People-centered justice systems protect the rights of the least powerful, and empower them to participate in decision-making,” she said.
As the opening segment concluded, representatives of Governments, international organizations and networks, civil society, academia and youth transitioned to lively deliberations on lessons learned and good practices in implementing SDG 16 in all its dimensions, as well as interlinkages among SDG 16 and other SDGs. More than 20 Permanent Representatives and Deputy Permanent Representatives made statements, including on behalf of the Group of Friends of the rule of law, the Group of Friends of security sector reform and the Justice Action Coalition.
Since 2019, the Government of Italy, UN DESA and IDLO have jointly held five international conferences on SDG 16. These gatherings have served as a multi-stakeholder forum to assess SDG 16 and identify opportunities for accelerated action, and to promote the catalytic effect that progress on SDG 16 can have on achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The conclusions drawn from these conferences have informed reviews of progress at the High-Level Political Forum.
For more information: SDG 16 High-level Conference 2024