top of page
Peace justice and strong institutions
Compassion and a strong moral compass are essential to every democratic society. However, persecution, injustice, and abuse continue to be widespread, undermining the very fabric of civilization. We must ensure strong institutions, uphold global standards of justice, and commit to peace everywhere.
Goal 16 is based on the understanding that sustainable development is impossible without peace, access to justice, and accountable institutions. It addresses violence, corruption, weak rule of law, restricted civic space, and lack of trust in governance.
Key areas include conflict prevention, legal identity, judicial independence, anti-corruption measures, and protection of fundamental freedoms. Structural challenges include impunity, political capture, and erosion of democratic norms.
Institutions such as Transparency International, CIVICUS, and the International Criminal Court contribute oversight and accountability.
Recent years have seen democratic backsliding and increased conflict, themes prominent around International Anti-Corruption Day (9 December). On the other hand, more and more people in civil society around the world are joining forces to fill these gaps. GSN documents institutional resilience as foundational to all other goals.
Women-led cultural peacebuilding is reshaping civic resistance in conflict zones
In conflict zones, women-led cultural initiatives are helping communities preserve trust, memory and public life.
Editorial Team SDG16
Apr 256 min read
Interpeace and the politics of locally led peacebuilding
How Interpeace tries to move community knowledge into national and international peace policy
Editorial Team SDG16
Apr 245 min read
Why today’s worst crises can no longer be treated as separate emergencies
Published alongside our earlier report on the International Rescue Committee, this opinion column reflects on why conflict, poverty, climate stress and aid cuts must now be understood as one connected global failure
Editorial Team SDG16
Apr 186 min read
International Rescue Committee and the difficult politics of saving lives in war
In conflict settings, the IRC’s joined-up model of health, protection, education and emergency aid matters as needs rise
Editorial Team SDG16
Apr 166 min read
The long-term impact of war on children is written in broken schools, dry taps and vanishing safety nets
Conflict harms children long after the shelling stops, through education loss, trauma, displacement and collapsed public services
Editorial Team SDG16
Apr 146 min read
Citizen networks as a silent force when official diplomacy stalls
Informal networks, civic groups and local ties often keep dialogue alive when governments cannot, or will not, talk
Editorial Team SDG16
Mar 315 min read
Bond and the struggle to rebuild trust in international development
As aid budgets tighten and scrutiny grows, Bond sits at the centre of debates on safeguarding, partnerships and sector credibility
Editorial Team SDG16
Mar 206 min read
Southeast Asia’s landmine survivors cannot wait for perfect politics
Prosthetics, rehabilitation and long-term support remain the clearest measure of real progress for survivors
Editorial Team SDG16
Mar 108 min read
The hidden cost of scaling social projects too quickly
Rapid growth can dilute impact, weaken accountability and burn out communities before systems are ready.
Editorial Team SDG16
Mar 17 min read
Humanitarian agencies scale up emergency shelter response as global displacement rises
UN-led plan seeks $33bn to support 135 million people as shelter teams race to reach displaced families
Editorial Team SDG16
Feb 213 min read
Straits in focus as Tarifa forum links border pressures to Arctic ‘Intelligence’ debate
Meeting at Europe’s closest point to Africa spotlights borders, narratives and a June Arctic call for papers on “intelligence”
Editorial
Feb 123 min read
The right to disappear
A practical look at consent, AI and the right to be forgotten, and how to delete your digital footprint online
Editorial Team SDG16
Feb 24 min read
Global focus on access to justice defines CSW70 agenda
The 70th session will unite nations to strengthen equality before the law and expand women’s access to fair justice systems
Editorial Team SDG16
Jan 212 min read
From propaganda to global harmony: the Vienna New Year’s Concert and the power of music
Born in one of Europe’s darkest chapters, the Vienna New Year’s Concert now unites over 50 million viewers worldwide through music, culture and shared heritage
Editorial
Jan 42 min read
Elections under force and fear test the meaning of democracy
Low turnout, digital surveillance and repression in Myanmar reveal how voting has become a tool of control rather than consent
Editorial Team SDG16
Jan 23 min read
Climate justice at the tipping point as courts recast inaction as a human-rights violation
How a quiet legal shift is reshaping global expectations for fair, sustainable governance
Editorial Team SDG16
Dec 28, 20253 min read
Digital power, inclusion, and the global society: Patrick Lumumba’s peer interview with Edwin Ochola
A conversation on digital inclusion, African leadership, and building an inclusive global society through connection and shared responsibility.
Patrick Lumumba
Dec 25, 20255 min read
Age of disconsent
youth exchange explores political literacy and responsible citizenship across borders
Editorial Team SDG16
Dec 21, 20253 min read
Red cross and red crescent scale back aid as crises grow
Funding cuts expose limits of global humanitarianism at a time of conflict climate shocks and displacement
Editorial Team SDG16
Dec 17, 20252 min read
Rule of law as the quiet architecture of global stability
How independent measurement strengthens justice, trust and sustainable progress
Editorial Team SDG16
Dec 2, 20253 min read
The Church’s contradictions: a history of charity, power and moral dilemmas
Exploring both the noble and troubling sides of the Church’s role in helping the disadvantaged throughout history.
Editorial Team SDG16
Nov 20, 20253 min read
Multilateralism under pressure needs smarter partnerships to save the 2030 promise
As the UN turns 80, a Bangkok policy dialogue spotlights risks to cooperation, and the fixes that could still work
Editorial Team SDG16
Nov 8, 20254 min read
Justice beyond borders: inside the tribunal that governs the world’s seas
An insight into ITLOS in Hamburg, where maritime disputes are settled under international law and justice at sea is upheld
Petra Fritz
Nov 2, 20255 min read
The origins of modern activism in the fight against slavery
How Granville Sharp and Thomas Clarkson shaped the blueprint for social justice and reform movements
Editorial Team SDG16
Oct 22, 20253 min read
Peace Connect global gathering brings local peacebuilders to the forefront
Five-day conference in Nairobi amplifies Global South voices amid rising militarism and shrinking peacebuilding funds
Editorial Team SDG16
Oct 19, 20252 min read
Front Line Defenders and the global struggle to protect human rights defenders
A lifeline for those risking everything to defend freedom and dignity
Joan Ubide
Oct 3, 20253 min read
Pro Bono builds a culture of free legal aid in a changing society
Expanding access to justice in Italy through collaboration, training and advocacy
Editorial Team SDG10
Sep 27, 20253 min read
Salvation Army sustains vital support for refugees into fourth year of war
From food aid in Ukraine to psychosocial care and financial training across Europe the organisation adapts to the evolving needs of displaced families
Editorial Team SDG10
Sep 24, 20253 min read
Humanistic Buddhism harnesses art for sustainable development goals
Art-driven Buddhist initiative fosters education, peace, and justice through cultural dialogue in Southeast Asia
Editorial Team SDG16
Aug 17, 20253 min read
Ukrainian community in Cluj-Napoca opens playground as a symbol of gratitude to Romania
Ukrainian refugees in Cluj restore playground in Florești as a heartfelt tribute to Romania’s kindness and solidarity
Mariia Koshkina
Aug 12, 20252 min read
Climate refugees: Crisis the world will face, unless we unite in global action
A growing crisis tied to sustainability
Editorial Team SDG16
Aug 4, 20253 min read
Case study: Brenda Reynolds and Kennedy Odede, standing up for human rights
Empowering Communities for a sustainable future
Editorial Team SDG16
Aug 2, 20253 min read
Under the spotlight: Balancing AI ambition with robust control
Exploring whether voluntary international commitments can be anchored by enforceable frameworks.
Editorial Team SDG16
Jun 20, 20254 min read
SAARTHI: Jharkhand's civil society leads just transition network
Pioneering collaboration aims to ensure equitable and sustainable development for marginalised communities
Editorial Team SDG17
Jun 18, 20253 min read
Bridging voluntary SDGS and binding human rights obligations
How accountability transforms aspiration into enforceable duty
Editorial Team SDG16
Jun 12, 20253 min read
Indigenous child removals in Queensland spark urgent reform talks
Summit in Brisbane highlights failures in child protection and calls for systemic change
Editorial Team SDG16
Jun 1, 20252 min read
The importance of intercultural dialogue in global politics: Students build bridges in Tarifa
A two-day Erasmus+ workshop in Tarifa explored how dialogue across cultures strengthens diplomacy, peacebuilding, and global cooperation
Editorial Team SDG16
May 16, 20254 min read
The future is collective action unlocking systemic change through united social innovation
Uniting global changemakers to tackle complex challenges through collective social innovation and cross-sector collaboration
Editorial Team SDG16
May 14, 20254 min read
World Press Freedom Day: Navigating the age of artificial intelligence
How AI is reshaping media independence, freedom of expression, and global sustainability goals
Editorial Team SDG16
May 3, 20254 min read
Fake news: A historical perspective and its impact on global society
In today’s digital age, fake news poses a growing threat to justice, public trust, and global progress understanding its roots is vital.
Editorial Team SDG16
Apr 9, 20255 min read
Building bridges: The Berghof Foundation’s mission to prevent extremism and promote sustainable peace
From Yemen to the Balkans, the Berghof Foundation exemplifies how inclusive dialogue and community resilience can drive conflict transformation and support the global pursuit of sustainable peace
Editorial Team SDG16
Apr 7, 20253 min read
Myanmar: Between political Crisis, organised crime, and environmental devastation
Amid civil conflict, environmental devastation, and the rise of organised crime, Myanmar faces a multifaceted crisis with severe humanitarian and regional consequences
Ira Grange
Apr 5, 20253 min read
Repatriation: Returning human remains and cultural heritage to Indigenous communities
In recent decades, repatriation has emerged as a vital process in archaeology, involving the return of ancestral human remains and significa
Editorial Team SDG16
Mar 10, 20254 min read
Europe at a crossroads: Security or an arms race
The announcement by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding the "ReArm Europe" plan to mobilise nearly €800 billion in
Ira Grange
Mar 6, 20253 min read
Peace or business? The dark side of the Trump-Zelensky agreement
The recent announcement of an agreement between the Trump administration and the Ukrainian government, granting the United States rights to
Ira Grange
Feb 28, 20253 min read
The uncomfortable truths about human rights violations: A critical analysis of their Universal Declaration
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, is a landmark docu...
Ira Grange
Jan 14, 20256 min read
North Korean soldiers in Ukraine: A new dimension to proxy warfare
Recent reports of North Korean soldiers fighting and dying alongside Russian forces in Ukraine have sparked significant concern over the exp
Ira Grange
Jan 6, 20254 min read
Reflecting on 2024: A year of transformation
The year 2024 unfolded as a defining chapter in the story of our shared humanity. It was a year of turmoil and triumph, setbacks and breakth
Editorial Team SDG16
Dec 31, 20244 min read
Justice and gender equality: How the Pelicot case highlights systemic failures
The Dominique Pelicot case, one of France's most shocking examples of systemic sexual abuse, has ignited a global conversation about the nec
Editorial Team SDG16
Dec 21, 20243 min read
Advancing global goals: Namatis mission
In a world where economic inequality, environmental degradation, and social injustice persist, Namati stands as a powerful force for change.
Editorial Team SDG16
Dec 12, 20244 min read
TARGETS
Everyone can contribute to achieving the Global Goals. By focusing on these targets, meaningful action can be taken to create significant impacts across various areas. This approach encourages collaboration and collective efforts to address critical issues, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Target
The action
REDUCE VIOLENCE EVERYWHERE
Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
Target
The action
PROTECT CHILDREN FROM ABUSE, EXPLOITATION, TRAFFICKING AND VIOLENCE
End abuse, exploitation, trafficking, and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
Target
The action
PROMOTE THE RULE OF LAW AND ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE
Promote the rule of law at national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
Target
The action
COMBAT ORGANIZED CRIME AND ILLICIT FINANCIAL AND ARMS FLOWS
By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime.
Target
The action
SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE CORRUPTION AND BRIBERY
Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
Target
The action
DEVELOP EFFECTIVE, ACCOUNTABLE AND TRANSPARENT INSTITUTIONS
Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels.
Target
The action
ENSURE RESPONSIVE, INCLUSIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE DECISION-MAKING
Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.
Target
The action
STRENGTHEN THE PARTICIPATION IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in global governance institutions.
Target
The action
PROVIDE UNIVERSAL LEGAL IDENTITY
By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.
Target
The action
ENSURE PUBLIC ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND PROTECT FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS
Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
Target
The action
STRENGTHEN NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO PREVENT VIOLENCE AND COMBAT TERRORISM AND CRIME
Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, to build capacity at all levels particularly in developing countries to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.
Target
The action
PROMOTE AND ENFORCE NON-DISCRIMINATORY LAWS AND POLICIES
Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies that support sustainable development.
bottom of page