GOAL 16 – PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS

Goal 16 aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, to offer access to reliable justice institutions and to create efficient, responsible and inclusive bodies at all levels.

Some regions of the world benefit from stable and lasting conditions of peace and good governance, while other regions are still plagued by conflict, violence and ungovernability.

Conflicts, insecurity, weak institutions and limited access to justice remain threats to sustainable development. In 2019, the number of people fleeing wars, persecutions and conflicts exceeded 79.5 million, the highest level since these statistics were systematically recorded. One in four children continue to be deprived of legal identity due to lack of birth registration, often limiting their ability to exercise their rights.

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to amplify and exploit frailties around the world. In March 2020, the UN Secretary-General called for an immediate global ceasefire to help deliver humanitarian assistance and open channels for diplomacy, particularly for those most vulnerable to COVID-19. The measure was warmly embraced, but it is finding difficulties in being implemented.

In order to obtain peaceful and inclusive societies, which promote sustainable development, it is necessary to boost the principles of legality at the international level.