By UN Development Programme (UNDP) Global Policy Centre for Governance
A decade into the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) has moved from the margins to the mainstream of national reporting. Once seen as a sensitive and complex area, it is now recognized as central to achieving all other Goals. The 2025 voluntary national reviews (VNRs) reveal that countries are embedding SDG 16 targets into national development plans, strengthening data systems, and investing in digital and institutional reforms that make governance more inclusive and effective.
Despite this progress, it is also noted that some targets are not consistently integrated into all reports, such as those on organized crime, corruption, and global governance. Disaggregated data remain limited, and many institutions lack the capacity to measure governance-related evidence. The 2025 VNRs confirm that transparent, accountable, and responsive institutions are indispensable for sustainable progress, yet their advancement requires consistent investment in data, systems, and trust.
SDG 16 at the core of national reporting
By 2025, 81% of reporting countries included standalone chapters on SDG 16, demonstrating its integration into national strategies and monitoring systems. For example:
- Access to justice (SDG target 16.3) saw near-universal coverage, reflecting recognition of the need to invest in providing means and resources to access justice.
- Violence reduction (SDG target 16.1) and child protection (SDG target 16.2) were featured in 97% of reports.
- Institutional effectiveness (SDG target 16.6) and inclusive decision making (SDG target 16.7) also saw strong reporting, illustrating growing national focus on governance performance and participation.
At the same time, coverage for organized crime (SDG target 16.4) and global governance (SDG target 16.8) declined, which might signal a shift in the prioritization.
Harnessing data and digital innovation
Countries are increasingly treating data as a strategic governance asset. The 2025 VNRs highlight the expansion of national indicator frameworks, the development of open-access dashboards, and the integration of citizen-generated data. Digital tools, such as e-justice platforms, real-time service monitoring, and predictive analytics, are reshaping how institutions operate and engage with citizens.
While digitalization is advancing transparency and efficiency, its success depends on addressing persistent gaps, including unequal access to technology, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and limited infrastructure in fragile contexts. The report notes that artificial intelligence (AI) was notably absent from most VNRs.
A way forward: Strengthening institutions for a sustainable future
The 2025 VNRs through the lens of peaceful, just, and strong institutions highlight that as countries enter the final stretch of the 2030 Agenda, SDG 16 has become an essential foundation for sustainable development. Its growing prominence in national reporting supports more coherent, evidence-based decision making and reinforces the centrality of transparent, accountable, and responsive institutions to every other Goal.
At the same time, the report recognizes that progress unfolds amid new global challenges. To sustain momentum and ensure that institutions remain fit-for-purpose, countries must prioritize:
- Bridging digital divides and addressing data regulation, capacity and infrastructure gaps that limit data availability, particularly on vulnerable groups;
- Investing in national statistical capacity and advocacy to enable more consistent reporting on sensitive yet critical indicators; and
- Reinforcing transparent, accountable, and evidence-based governance systems as the backbone of the 2030 Agenda and a precondition for achieving lasting peace, justice, and inclusion.
Together, these actions define the path forward: building the institutional and data foundations necessary to translate commitment to SDG 16 into measurable, sustained progress toward the 2030 Agenda’s transformative vision. [Publication: 2025 Voluntary National Reviews through the Lens of Peaceful, Just and Strong Institutions] [Publication Landing Page]