Peace, justice and strong Institutions are essential to sustainable development. However, ongoing and new violent conflicts around the world are derailing the global path to peace and cause human suffering and hinder progress on Goal 16. In May 2024, the number of forcibly displaced people reached 120 million, an all-time high. In addition, civilian casualties in armed conflicts increased by 72 per cent in 2023. Urgent action is needed to combat corruption and organized crime, strengthen the rule of law and access to justice. Governments, civil society and communities need to work together to find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity. Strengthening the rule of law and promoting human rights is key to this process, as is reducing the flow of illicit arms, combating corruption, and ensuring inclusive participation at all times.
The Pact for the Future reaffirms the global commitment to peace, justice and strong institutions as strong pillars of the SDGs. Recognising the need to reform international governance structures, it proposes strengthening the UN system, ensuring human rights for all and accelerating reforms in the Security Council to increase representativeness and transparency. The pact encompasses the importance of promoting accountable institutions while expanding access to justice to ensure fundamental freedoms.
SDG 16 in Numbers
- In 2023, the global economic impact of violence was nearly $20 trillion.
- About 19 per cent of people reported being asked to pay or having paid a bribe to a public official in the last 12 months, based on 138 countries with available data from 2015 to 2022. 1 in 6 children lived in conflict zones in 2020.
- In 2023, 320 human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists in 40 countries were killed, down from 448 cases in 36 countries in 2022