The SDGs feature the ground-breaking inclusion of SDG16+, outlining ambitious commitments towards fostering peace, good governance, accountability, and human rights that need to be addressed to ensure that sustainable development, and the SDGs, are effective, successful and reach all persons.  

SDG16 is interlinked in hundreds of ways with other SDGs and is key to the overall success of SDGs. The absence of advancements and the regression in achieving SDG16+ not only casts doubt on the effectiveness of the SDGs, but also carries tangible repercussions for individuals worldwide.  

In 2023, an estimated 339 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection globally — the highest figure in decades. Killings of human rights defenders have been increasing substantially since the 2030 Agenda was adopted, with 401 human rights defenders killed in 26 countries in 2022.2 Globally, it is estimated that approximately one billion children between the ages of 2 and 17 – half of all children in the world – experience physical, emotional or sexual violence every year, with this trend moving in the wrong direction. All of these problems highlight the need for civil society to play a larger role in promoting SDG16.  

Civil society already plays a crucial role in SDG16 implementation; many of the best sources of information on progress of SDG16 are produced by civil society and academic institutions, with citizen-generated data being especially important to show impact at the local level. Spotlight reporting highlights the gaps in the official reporting and should be more formally incorporated within official processes.  

Positively, more countries appear to be expanding out, formally including civil society and others in their reviews, even if somewhat superficially at present. At the same time, limits on civic space and growing authoritarianism are making it harder for civil society to effectively operate.  

As we approach the halfway point of Agenda 2030, and in light of the forthcoming 2023 SDG Summit, now is the time for governments, UN bodies, and other stakeholders to make changes, to seriously incorporate SDG16 into national laws, to involve civil society, and to promote inclusive processes.  

The HighLevel Political Forum (HLPF) should conduct a detailed review of SDG16 every year and better examine how the interlinkages are working. Governments should be forthcoming in their reviews and data collections on their progresses and deficits.  

#SDG16Now is a global civil society campaign to support accelerated action towards SDG16+ around peaceful, just and inclusive societies. Through the #SDG16Now Campaign, civil society asked governments and the international community to seize the moment at the September 2023 SDG Summit to reinvigorate commitments and financing for SDG16+, to bring progress towards the SDGs back on track.  

Ahead of the 2023 SDG Summit, the SDG16Now Campaign published a collective “Communique” outlining the campaign’s call to action around the SDG Summit. The communique included details on the top-line priorities and objectives for the #SDGNow Campaign, including around: Scaling up political commitments for SDG16+; Leveraging financing to support SDG16+ implementation; Fostering a greater recognition of the indispensable role of civil society for SDG16+. 

In 2024, the SDG16NOW campaign will launch a new engagement toolkit in several languages, to help partners engage SDG16 in terms of policy advocacy, mobilization actions, media outreach and social media campaigning. 

Tools and Resources for CSOs on SDG 16: