GOAL OF THE MONTH – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
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Where We Are
Limited progress has been made on the ambitious targets of SDG 16, which promotes peaceful and inclusive societies, access to justice for all and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. While people everywhere should be free of fear from all forms of violence and feel safe no matter their ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation, alarming trends are observed worldwide and threaten the achievement of the rest of the 2030 Agenda. Rising conflicts and violent organized crime persist around the world, causing immense human suffering and hampering sustainable development. Women, children and marginalized communities continue to make up the majority of the victims of violence, and gender parity is not achieved in political institutions.
These ongoing challenges require a new, reinvigorated response from the multilateral system, and this is why peace security constitute a key pillar of the upcoming Summit of the Future. Conversations in September will be guided by the UN Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace , which encouraged Member States to move beyond the current logic of competition and find avenues for collective action and cooperation to pursue the shared interest of SDG 16. It reaffirms the centrality of the UN Charter and national action, and the critical need to rebuild dispute-resolution mechanisms and restore trust among global powers. This groundbreaking policy brief has infused diplomatic engagement leading up to the Summit and the draft Pact for the Future to be adopted in September, in which Member States are expected to commit to 17 actions to promote peace and enhance global security.
In Focus
UN Global Progress Report on SDG 16 Launch
The “Global Progress Report on SDG 16 Indicators: At the Crossroads: Breakdown or Breakthrough for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions” was launched recently during the High-Level Political Forum at UN Headquarters by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed. The second UN progress report on SDG 16 found that violent crime is on the rise, discrimination widespread, corruption pervasive, access to justice constrained and governance failing on inclusivity: alarming trends that threaten the achievement of the other SDGs.
Read the report here
“My New Agenda for Peace recognizes the links between sustainable development, climate action & peace, and it presents a comprehensive vision for peace in our changing world, based on prevention & international law – anchored in human rights.”
– António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, 14 February, 2024
SDG 16 IN NUMBERS
- In 2023, civilian casualties in armed conflicts surged by a staggering 72 per cent, the steepest rise since 2015.
- The number of women killed in conflict increased for the first time since 2015. In 2022, 2 in 10 civilians killed in conflicts were women; 1 in 10 were children. By 2023, 4 in 10 were women and 3 in 10 were children
- Almost 8 in 10 children aged under 14 years of age were subjected to violent discipline at home.
- The number of journalists and media workers killed across the world in 2023 doubled to 40 individuals, compared to 20 killed in 2021 and 28 killed in 2022.
Highlights
SDG Media Zone
The UN General Assembly flagship SDG Media Zone returns from September 23-27, 2024. Join us for a full week of inspiring speakers and sessions exploring key issues for accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals, key outcomes and discussions around the Summit of the Future and how you can take action on the SDGs. Visit here for more information and for regular updates on the program.
Visit here for more information and for regular updates on the program and to join the conversations online.
UN General Assembly High-level Week events page now LIVE
A wide view of the General Assembly Hall as Secretary-General António Guterres (on screens and at podium) addresses the General Assembly high-level meeting on Global Road Safety on the theme: “The 2030 horizon for road safety: securing a decade of action and delivery”.
Get to know all of the events that are taking place during this year’s UN General Assembly High-level Week. Now LIVE in English (with all official UN languages coming soon), this one-stop-shop provides useful information on key events during the high-level week of the 79th General Assembly: the Summit of the Future, the General Debate, the High-level Meetings on: Sea-Level Rise; Antimicrobial Resistance; and the commemoration of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
Be sure to check back also as more updates are added as information becomes available.
https://www.un.org/en/high-level-week-2024
“Keeping Hope Alive” podcast
Awake at Night Podcast: ‘Keeping Hope Alive’ Listen to the latest Awake at Night episode with UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming’s. This month captures an inspiring conversation with UNHCR’s deputy representative in South Sudan, Juliette Murekeyisoni. By reflecting on her own experience of the Rwandan genocide and of her current position in South Sudan, home to over 300,000 refugees and 2 million internally displaced people due to conflict, we are encouraged to keep hope alive.
Listen to the podcast here: Juliette Murekeyisoni | Keeping hope alive (S9-E11) | United Nations
Upcoming International Days
9 | International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
The 2024 edition of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People’s theme is “Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact”. It acknowledges the ~200 groups of indigenous people currently living in voluntary isolation and initial contact status, preserving their cultures, languages and unique relationships to the natural environment. This edition seeks to bring attention to the key role they play in protecting vulnerable ecosystems and the threats they face for their survival.
Watch the promotional video here
Learn more about the day here
A virtual commemoration on the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People will take place on August 9, 2024, from 9:00 to 10:30 am EDT. The event will feature an address from UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim (Mbororo); followed by a panel discussion and dialogue on the threats faced by indigenous people and the responses to protect their rights.
Read the Draft Programme here and register for the virtual event at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/IndigenousDay24
12 | International Youth Day
International Youth Day 2024 celebrates youth and digital innovation, focusing on how young minds are harnessing new technologies to develop solutions to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. This year’s theme, “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”, emphasizes the catalytic and multiplier effect of digital transformation for all the SDGs.
Learn more about resources and events here.
19 | World Humanitarian Day
Launched in 2008 to commemorate the 2003 bomb attack that killed 22 humanitarian aid workers at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, World Humanitarian Day brings together partners across the entire humanitarian system to advocate for well-being and dignity of crises-affected people and for the safety of aid workers.
In the wake of the deadliest year on record for aid workers, World Humanitarian Day 2024 shines a light on the international law violations committed against civilians and aid workers and calls to end the impunity that allows them.
Learn more about this year’s edition here
21 | International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
The 21st of August is dedicated to honoring and supporting the victims and survivors of terrorism, and to promote their human rights and fundamental freedoms. Playing a key role in international efforts to counter terrorism, violent extremism, and to encourage States to uphold their human rights and provide dedicated support, victims of acts of terror are central to the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy. This unique instrument, reviewed biannually, aims to consolidate cooperation and national, regional and international efforts to counter terrorism.
22 | International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
Launched in 2019, the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief is an opportunity for Member States to reaffirm their condemnation of religion- and belief-based violence and discrimination, and to demonstrate their committment to upholding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights articles 18, 19 and 20.
Learn more here.
29 | International Day Against Nuclear Tests
Over 2,000 nuclear tests have taken place since July 16, 1945. This year marks the 14th commemoration of the International Day, which aims to raise awareness about the disastrous effects of test nuclear explosions for human life and the environment, and about the role of testing in the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Day is also an opportunity to promote the entry into force of the international instrument to end all forms of nuclear testing, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which remains unimplemented since its drafting in 1996.
Learn more about the day here.
ACTNOW for our Common Future
In today’s divided world, the call for peace should echo louder than ever. There are many ways to speak up for peace and everyone can be part of the conversation. Use your voice and words to champion peace. On the road to the Summit of the Future, we are encouraging everyone to #ActNow and speak up to show decision makers that people worldwide are taking a stand for a more peaceful future for all. Learn more on how you can participate and engage your networks in ActNow: bit.ly/SoF-Challenge-NL
Summit of the Future
The Summit of the Future, to be held in New York 22-23 September 2024, is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the multilateral system to address existing and emerging challenges, improve global governance and accelerate the implementation of existing commitments, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The Summit will have as its outcome an inter-governmentally agreed Pact for the Future. Stay tuned for more: https://www.un.org/en/summit-of-the-future
Awake at Night Podcast
Season 8 of the UN’s award-winning podcast is now streaming! Hosted by UN Communications Chief, Melissa Fleming, Awake at Night gives exclusive insights into the inspiring lives of the extraordinary people that make up the United Nations.
Discover all the episodes here: https://pod.link/1429922419