Review of SDG implementation and interrelations among goals: Discussion on SDG 16 – Peace, justice and strong institutions

SDG 16 aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. The 2030 Agenda recognizes the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights, on effective rule of law and good governance at all levels and on transparent, effective and accountable institutions. SDG 16 is identified as a Goal that is both an outcome and enabler of sustainable development. It is closely interlinked with other SDGs. Without peace, justice and inclusion, achieving goals such as ending poverty, ensuring education promote economic growth can be difficult or impossible. At the same time, various SDGs can help or hinder the achievement of SDG 16, for instance climate change can act as a threat multiplier, aggravating additional social, environmental and political stressors, conditions that could possibly lead to violence.

Advances in ending violence, promoting the rule of law, strengthening institutions and increasing access to justice is uneven. This continues to deprive millions of people throughout the world of security, rights and opportunities. Attacks on civil society are also holding back development progress. Renewed efforts are therefore necessary to make the realization of SDG 16 a reality. Failure to invest in SDG 16 will result in worsening violence, injustice and exclusion which will reverse development against across all SDGs.

The SDG 16 session may want to consider the comprehensive list of recommendations for action resulted from the preparatory expert process. The recommendations on enhancing peace, dialogue and reconciliation; preventing and ending all forms of violence; safeguarding children; promoting the rule of law; ensuring equal access to justice for all, promoting human rights; addressing discriminatory laws; building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions - are contained in the background note

(/sites/default/files/migrated/documents/23672BN_SDG16_LV.pdf).

This session will have a roundtable format.

Background notes are available here: short version and long version

Information for Expert Group Meeting on SDG16 is available here

Proposed guiding questions:

What are the specific policy reforms, local actions and strategies adopted to support national and local processes to strengthen resilience of communities and institutions to best deliver on SDG16? These could include actions in the spheres of strengthening social cohesion, dialogue and reconciliation, access to basic services including justice and security and conflict/dispute resolution.
How can SDG 16 targets and indicators leverage human rights norms, standards and analytical approaches to inform the measurement, monitoring and implementation of the 2030 Agenda?
What are the key interventions and specific policies that can help reach the furthest behind first, especially those who are left behind due to violence, injustice, and exclusion?
What are some of the primary and urgent capacity needs and gaps of governments and other stakeholder groups around SDG 16 and how can those gaps be filled? Do they differ from the longer-term capacity needs for the achievement of SDG 16?
What innovative methodologies and partnerships, including the use of data, technology and expertise from the private sector, civil society and academia can be harnessed to strengthen national systems to track and report on progress related to targets under Goal 16? What tools and support do Member States require for strengthening disaggregated data availability?

Chair:

H.E. Mr. Omar Hilale, Vice President of ECOSOC

Presentation:

Ms. Vibeke Oestreich Nielsen, Development Data and Outreach Branch, Statistics Division of UN DESA

Keynote speaker:

H.E. Ms. Laura Chinchilla, Former President of Costa Rica, and Vice President of Club de Madrid

Message by Charles Young from Jamaica and Ahona Paul from Cambodia, youth and children representatives on ending violence against children

Moderator:

Ms. Irene Khan, Director-General, International Development Law Organization

Resource persons:

H.E. Ms. Emanuela del Re, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy
H.E. Ms. Maria Fernanda Rodriguez, Vice Minister of Justice, Argentina
Ms. Gabriela Cuevas Barron, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)
Mr. Abdoulie Janneh, Executive Director, Liaison with Governments and Institutions in Africa, Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Lead discussants:

H.E. Mr. Harib Al Amimi, President of State Audit Institution United Arab Emirates and Chairman of International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI)
H.E. Mr. Vuk Zugic, Co-ordinator for Economic and Environmental Activities, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)