17 June 2026 - The window of opportunity to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is narrowing rapidly amid rising inequalities, the accelerating impacts of climate change, shrinking civic space, technological risks and disruptions and heightened global instability.
To address these challenges, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16—focused on peace, justice, and strong institutions—must be urgently advanced as both a foundation for sustainable development and a driving force to achieve all the other SDGs.
Against this backdrop, the SDG16 Conference 2026 will take place on 17 June 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York, convened by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, UN DESA and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). Bringing together representatives of governments, international organizations, civil society, women, youth, and other key stakeholders, the Conference will serve as an inclusive platform for political engagement on SDG 16 implementation. The Conference will explore how action on access to justice and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions can deliver tangible results for societies and support national development priorities, in line with Action 7 of the Pact for the Future. It will also feature a presentation of the 2026 Civil Society Declaration on SDG 16+.
Key recommendations from the Conference will be shared as inputs to the 2026 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.
The Conference will be held from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm EDT in Conference room 4 and will also be broadcast live via UN Web TV.
For more information: SDG 16 Conference