SDG 16

Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies
The sixteenth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)

Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

Aims to “Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies”.

Let's learn a little more about SDG 16.

  • Targets 12 Targets
  • Campaigns 3 Campaigns
  • Pledges 3244 Pledges
  • Actions Uploaded 3378 Actions Taken
  • Reading Material 8 Reading Material
  • Quiz 8 Quiz
  • Overview
  • Facts & Figures
  • Targets

Why Is It Important To Promote Peace, Justice & Create Strong Institutions?

Creating strong, accountable and inclusive institutions foster a sense of justice and fairness among people, and thus help in creating a peaceful society. People everywhere need to be free of fear from any form of violence and feel safe as they go about their lives irrespective of their ethnicity, faith or sexual orientation. Conflict, insecurity, weak institutions and limited access to justice remain threats to sustainable development. Governments, civil society and communities must collaborate and work together, right upto the individual level, and create lasting solutions to reduce violence, deliver justice, fight corruption and ensure inclusive participation at all times.

Quoting the noted economist Amartya Sen, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda writes  in his 2017 Peace Proposal:

the roles of institutions, rules and organization, important as they are, have to be assessed in the broader and more inclusive perspective of nyaya, which is inescapably linked with the world that actually emerges, not just the institutions or rules we happen to have.

What Progress Has Been Made So Far In Terms of promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies?

  • 127 countries have adopted Right to Information (RTI) or freedom-of-information laws.
  • The global homicide rate has declined slowly from 5.9 per 100,000 population in 2015 to 5.8 per 100,000 population in 2018.

How Can I As An Individual Apply Sustainable Human Behaviour To Achieve These Targets For SDG 16 To Help Achieve The Goal Of Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions?

  • Consciously avoid bribes in any form, either paying or accepting.
  • Discouraging our peers and family members from paying or accepting any bribes.
  • Consciously reflect on oneself in our behaviour and dealings with individuals around us (especially those who are less privileged than us).
  • Avoid raising our hands or attacking anyone physically, including the very thought of the same.
  • Avoid spreading negativity, violence and abuse on social media, or behave condescendingly with others.
  • Diligently perform one’s work without cutting any corners.
  • Speak out against instances of any corruption anywhere.
  • Follow proper processes and compliances for every aspect such as timely filing of returns, registration of our vehicles, houses etc.
  • Avoid breaking any laws for any reason and ensure such discipline in our lives that no law is consciously broken.
  • Actively promote an inclusive decision-making process at our homes, defeating any inherent prejudices which we may have.
  • Develop tolerance and patience towards everyone’s opinions.
  • Actively foster young people by giving them more opportunities and responsibilities and empowering them, spreading awareness among them and instilling courage in them to stand up for themselves.
  • Deal with conflict or rage (the source of many heinous crimes and wars), in a proper and healthy manner, without allowing them to fester on for long.

Did You Know These Facts About SDG 16 – Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions?

  • 1.26

    Corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost some US $1.26 trillion for developing countries per year; this amount of money could be used to lift those who are living on less than $1.25 a day above $1.25 for at least six years.

  • 73%

    Birth registration has occurred for 73 per cent of children under 5, but only 46per cent of Sub-Saharan Africa have had their births registered.

  • 28.5 Million

    Approximately 28.5 million primary school age who are out of school live in conflict-affected areas.

  • 31%

    The proportion of prisoners held in detention without sentencing has remained almost constant in the last decade, at 31per cent of all prisoners.

  • 70 Million

    The number of people fleeing war, persecution and conflict exceeded 70 million in 2018, the highest level recorded by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in almost 70 years.

  • 357

    In 2019, the United Nations tracked 357 killings and 30 enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists in 47 countries.

  • $7 Trillion

    Violence against children affects more than 1 billion children around the world and costs societies up to US$ 7 trillion a year.

  • 50%

    50 per cent of the world’s children experience violence every year.

  • 7

    Every 7 minutes, somewhere in the world, a child is killed by violence.

  • 1 in

    1 in 10 children is sexually abused before the age of 18.

  • 732 Million

    9 in 10 children live in countries where corporal punishment is not fully prohibited, leaving 732 million children without legal protection.

  • 800 Million

    1 in 3 internet users worldwide is a child and 800 million of them use social media. Any child can become a victim of online violence.

  • 45 Million

    Child online sexual abuse reports to NCMEC has grown from 1 million in 2014 to 45 million in 2018.

  • 246 Million

    246 million children worldwide affected by school-related violence each year.

  • 1 in

    1 in 3 students has been bullied by their peers at school in the last month, and at least 1 in 10 children have experienced cyberbullying.

Targets For SDG 16 – Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions Set By The United Nations

  • Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

    Target 16.1
  • End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

    Target 16.2
  • Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

    Target 16.3
  • 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 16.4
  • Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.

    Target 16.5
  • Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

    Target 16.6
  • Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

    Target 16.7
  • Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance.

    Target 16.8
  • By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.

    Target 16.9
  • Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

    Target 16.10
  • 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.

    Target 16.A
  • Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.

    Target 16.B

campaigns On SDG

Take A Quiz On SDG