SDG16 - Peace and Justice

Challenges, Actions and the Way Forward

Vesela Radović

• Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781789734799
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Public Policy
• Index: Politics & International Relations

SDG16 recognises the need to respond to challenges to build a peaceful and just world. In the context of a transforming global community that is increasingly faced with conflict, the threat of terrorism and political instability, this goal has become more important than ever.
Peace and justice are recognized as important drivers in creating a sustainable society by bridging the Global North/South divide, the gap between rich and poor, the gap between developed and developing countries, and erasing the increased possibility of isolating marginalized groups such as migrants, woman, and disabled people. This book details how interested parties can, must and are getting ahead of the curve to promote peace, provide access to justice and build accountable institutions for all. It envisions a hopeful future in which the impacts of SDG16 are likely to be far more positive and transformational, and visible much more quickly, than we might have imagined.

1

PEACE IN THE 2030 AGENDA

International relations in the twenty-first century can be described as being full of sudden tensions, sometimes even between historical alliances. The Islamic State (ISIS) militant group triggered the mass mobilisation of many diverse parties to stop human suffering on several continents. Local wars and conflicts are threats which jeopardise the sustainable future of many countries in the world. Therefore, the inclusion of SDG16 in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development represents a fundamental shift in the global development landscape through the recognition that there can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development. Bonian Golmohammadi addresses the importance of future efforts to realise goal 16, ‘the inclusion of a goal on Peaceful Societies in the post-2015 development agenda is half of the battle; ensuring that it includes realistic, measurable and desirable targets is the other’ (WFUNA, 2014). In the future, all of us have to be aware of the importance of: keeping the peace; increasing stability and resilience which are at risk from many threats (terrorism being one of the most serious); and embracing and creating adequate policies for the implementation of SDG16 together with all the other SDGs.

1.1. SDG16 IN THE 2030 AGENDA FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

In 2015, when world leaders adopted the post-2015 sustainable development agenda Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the global level, the normative debate on the link between peace and development had been won. In New York in 2014, specific efforts were devoted to Focus Area 19 (FA19): Peaceful and non-violent societies, rule of law and capable institutions. In that meeting it was stated that, ‘the Post-2015 SDG agenda has to address root causes of violence and conflict and build on existing commitments to promote sustainable development and peace’.

The SDGs set out to strengthen investment in peaceful societies based on just and equitable norms. For this, additional focus needed to be put on ending conflicts resulting from resource extraction and militarisation that lead to displacement and human rights violations (especially towards women, children, people with disabilities and religious minorities). The SDGs also recognised the role of women’s participation and rights in conflict prevention and peace building. Emphasis needed to be put on: reducing military and arms spending; eliminating the production and stockpiling of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions; demilitarising land and oceans, particularly of Indigenous Peoples; the recognition by the State of all minorities (linguistic, ethnic, religious and sexual) as citizens with equal rights; the recognition of all peoples’ identity in a nation and preventing identity-based violence (UN, 2014).

The Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) points out that, ‘the presence of conflict is a major interrupter to development’. The inclusion of peace as a priority in the post-2015 development agenda was critical for the traditional aims of the development agenda (Fig. 1).

The IEP’s 2015 Global Peace Index (GPI) Report finds that,

the world is less peaceful today than it was in 2008. The indicators that have deteriorated the most are the number of refugees and Internal Displayed Persons (IDPs), the number of deaths from internal conflict and the impact of terrorism. Last year alone it is estimated that 20,000 people were killed in terrorist attacks – up from an average of 2,000 a year only ten years ago. Only two indicators have markedly improved since 2008: UN peacekeeping funding and external conflicts fought. (IEP, 2015)

The identification of peace as one of five areas of critical importance for humanity and the planet demonstrated the United Nations’ commitment to promoting peaceful and inclusive societies based on respect for human rights, the rule of law and transparent, effective and accountable institutions (Box 1).

Fig. 1. The Main Reasons Why Peace Was Needed as a Goal.

Source: Adapted from IEP (2014).

Box 1. The New Agenda at π 35.

Sustainable development cannot be realised without peace and security; and peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development. The new Agenda recognises the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights (including the right to development) on effective rule of law and good governance at all levels and on transparent, effective and accountable institutions. Factors which give rise to violence, insecurity and injustice, such as inequality, corruption, poor governance and illicit financial and arms flows, are addressed in the Agenda. We must redouble our efforts to resolve or prevent conflict and to support post-conflict countries, including through ensuring that women have a role in peace-building and State-building. We call for further effective measures and actions to be taken, in conformity with international law, to remove the obstacles to the full realisation of the right of self-determination of peoples living under colonial and foreign occupation, which continue to adversely affect their economic and social development as well as their environment.

Source: UN (2015, p. 9).

The 17 SDGs that lie at the heart of that agenda lay out an ambitious plan of action for peace, prosperity and environmental sustainability. Among them, SDG16 addressed the need 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’. Addressing critical issues such as rule of law and access to justice, effective and inclusive governance, access to information and fundamental freedoms, SDG16 has the potential to become one of the most transformative outcomes of the new agenda (WFUNA, 2018).

Willmott explained even before the Agenda that, ‘achieving sustainable, just and peaceful communities is a long-term business and it requires an approach that will enable it to cope with the vicissitudes of political and economic life’ (Willmott, 2003, p. 341). Furthermore, SDG16 focusses on important drivers of conflict including access to justice, corruption and bribery, transparency, fundamental freedoms, and participatory decision-making. SDG16 has 12 key targets ranging from measures to reduce violence, strengthen institutions and increase the inclusiveness and accountability of institutions (Box 2).

Three years after the adoption of UN Agenda 2030, the results of the 2018 GPI found that the global level of peace had deteriorated by 0.27% in the last year (2017), marking the fourth successive year of deterioration. Ninety-two countries deteriorated, while 71 countries improved. The 2018 GPI reveals a world in which the tensions, conflicts and crises that emerged in the past decade remain unresolved, especially in the Middle East, resulting in this gradual, sustained fall in peacefulness (IEP, 2018).

David Malone, rector of the United Nations University predicted that,

progress on SDG16 is uneven, and there is considerable doubt that it can be achieved at its current implementation rate. Challenges arise in all countries, including Canada, and are likely to become more acute given current trends, particularly those related to violence. (Malone, 2014)

Box 2. SDG16 and Its 12 Targets.

• 16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
• 16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
• 16.3 Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
• 16.4 By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organised crime.
• 16.5 Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
• 16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
• 16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
• 16.8 Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance.
• 16.9 By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.
• 16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.
• 16.a Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.
• 16.b Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.

Source: UN (2015, pp. 25–26).

This prediction is proved in statements presented in the second annual Global Report of the SDG16 Data Initiative (SDG16DI, 2017). The role of SDG16DI is to evaluate global progress towards realising the 2030 Agenda’s promise of peaceful, just and inclusive societies. The report mentioned illustrates that progress related to the achievement of SDG16 remains limited at best, but despite all obstacles provides inspiration to policy-makers and civil society to work more efficiently on actions to improve current results (SDG16DI, 2018a).

1.1.1. SDG16 Affects Positive and Negative Peace

Notably, SDG16 has targets and indicators which directly and indirectly claim to deliver improvements in both positive and negative peace. Negative peace is defined as the absence of violence and fear of violence; it is typically measured by indicators of direct physical violence such as homicide rates or violent crime. Positive peace broadly refers to the key institutions, structures and attitudes which facilitate a non-violent society. Positive peace indicators tend to focus on prevention and drivers of negative peace. These indicators may include measures such as the incidence of corruption or government capacities to deliver basic services in an equitable and inclusive way. It is ultimately the progress towards both negative and positive peace that aids state stability (IEP, 2014). In summary, positive peace creates an optimum environment for human potential to flourish. Four main findings were contained in this IEP report:

(1) Goal 16 can currently be measured with enough accuracy to determine progress, although with many limitations relating to data availability, reliability, timeliness and objectivity.

(2) Fifteen of the 23 indicators in Goal 16 can be measured by currently existing sources. The remaining eight indicators can be measured by proxy indicators.

(3) Numerous National Statistical Offices (NSOs) will need significant time and investment to develop the necessary statistical capacity to measure Goal 16. This highlights the need for third party initiatives to fill the data gaps and act as a source of independent verification while NSOs build their capabilities.

(4) The targets in Goal 16 are relevant to many of IEP’s Positive Peace factors.

Hence, the expectation for the future is that a peaceful society is approaching because human civilisation cannot survive without peace. The Vice Premier of the Republic of China, Liu Yandong (2016) at the Opening Ceremony of the Fifth World Peace Forum held in Beijing highlighted that,

the aspiration for peace is like the star of hope for mankind. It will cut through the dark clouds of turbulence and conflict and shine upon our beautiful world with full splendour. Let us stay true to the conviction of safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, uphold the spirit of cooperation, inclusiveness and opening-up and work together for a better future of lasting peace and common prosperity.

1.2. INDICATORS AND MONITORING FRAMEWORK FOR SDG16

In considering the numerous targets of the UN 2030 Agenda, we need to understand that there are a lot of challenges for actors to translate this new global commitment into tangible improvements in the lives of populations all over the world. How to measure the achievements of this important goal in the most appropriate way remains an enigma, despite the various efforts of interested parties. Wheeler (2016) explai...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Introduction
• 1. Peace in the 2030 Agenda
• 2. The Commitment to a Just Society
• 3. Inclusive Societies
• Conclusions
• References
• Index