16 July 2019: An event on the sidelines of the 2019 session of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) discussed an expanded version of SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) that reflects interlinkages with other SDGs by combining the original SDG 16 targets with 24 additional targets from other SDGs. The expanded concept is known as SDG 16+.

The 16 July 2019 event titled, ‘SDG 16+ and the Future We Want,’ was presented by the Permanent Mission of the UK, in partnership with the Sixteen Plus Forum (16+ Forum), the Global Alliance, Pathfinders, LexisNexis, and the Transparency, Accountability, and Participation (TAP) Network.

Speakers highlighted successful national experiences of SDG 16+ implementation that had emerged in countries’ Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs). Marcos Bonturi, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), said an estimated five billion people lack access to justice. He shared information on the model legal survey adopted by OECD to help policymakers understand legal problems and justice systems.

Mourad Wahba, UN Development Programme (UNDP), recognized the importance of SDG 16, and urged enhancing investment to ensure that institutions better support civil society and create partnerships, including with youth organizations. Participants also drew attention to the relationship between the SDGs and journalism, noting current challenges for safe journalism and press freedom. They also mentioned barriers faced by youth networks in implementing the SDGs, such as lack of access to youth funding, SDG knowledge diffusion, and the feasibility of youth participation in VNRs.

The event also addressed the private sector’s role in SDG 16 implementation by stimulating competition and establishing “forward-thinking” relationships. One participant called for reviewing SDG 16 every year. (A call for a yearly SDG 16 review is also summarized here.)

Participants agreed that political will for investment in evidence-based actions and empowerment, including of youth, is critical accelerate progress on all SDGs, including SDG 16+.

IISD Reporting Services is covering selected side events during the 2019 HLPF. [IISD Coverage of SDG 16+ Side Event] [SDG 16 Hub]