The UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) have published an analysis of the latest data on SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) indicators. The Global Progress Report on SDG 16 Indicators warns that progress on Goal 16 “is moving in the wrong direction” and calls for action to reverse the current trend.

Themed, ‘SDG 16: A Wake-up Call for Action on Peace, Justice and Inclusion,’ the report urges policymakers to ramp up collective action and political commitment and make “courageous choices” to address some of today’s most pressing challenges, including:

• Rising violence and evolving nature of conflict: At nearly 17,000, the number of civilians killed in war operations jumped 53% from 2021, a first-time increase since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• Child trafficking is on the rise: While the number of detected victims dropped in 2019-2020, the percentage of child victims grew from 28% in 2014 to 35% in 2021.
• Access to justice remains limited: Crimes such as robbery, physical assault, and sexual assault go unreported by more than half the victims, while the total number of persons in detention and the share of unsentenced detainees increased in 2021.
• Bribery affects individuals and businesses: More people were asked to pay or paid a bribe to a public official differs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) than in upper middle-income countries (MICs) and high-income countries (HICs).
• Human rights defenders and journalists are facing increased risks: The report flags a 40% rise in killings and a nearly 300% increase in enforced disappearances from 2021 to 2022.

In addition, the report finds women continue to be underrepresented at senior levels of decision making, and discrimination is prevalent worldwide, “with one in six people having experienced discrimination during the previous 12 months.”

The report points to increasing evidence of the interlinkages between peaceful, just, and inclusive societies and ending poverty and inequality, between reduced homicide rates and improvements in gross domestic product (GDP), and between quality governance systems and better development and human rights outcomes. It stresses the need for more investment in data to enable evidence-based decisions to better protect those most at risk of being left behind.

“Peace and prosperity for people and the planet – the promise the international community made when adopting the SDGs – will only be possible with decisive and innovative action on SDG 16,” said Executive Director of UNODC Ghada Waly.

“Human rights are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda and SDG 16 is the lever to effect transformative change for the rest of the Goals,” UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Ilze Brands Kehris emphasized. 

The report was launched during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) High-level Week, on 21 September 2023. [Publication: The Global Progress Report on Sustainable Development Goal 16 Indicators: A Wake-up Call for Action on Peace, Justice and Inclusion] [Publication Landing Page] [Joint Press Release]