Statement by the Director-General, Ms Jan Beagle
Monday, 12 May 2025
United Nations Headquarters in New York
Ambassador Greco,
Under-Secretary-General Li,
Distinguished delegates,
As we bring this year’s Conference to a close, I want to thank everyone for the dedication, insight, and collaborative spirit you have brought to today’s discussions.
I am especially grateful to our co-organizers – Italy and DESA – for their continuing partnership and commitment to SDG 16.
Ambassador Greco, USG Li, it is a pleasure to work with you and your colleagues.
Special thanks also to my IDLO team.
Today, we have taken stock of where we stand.
We know that progress towards the 2030 Agenda remains slow and uneven – hindered by conflict, fragility, inequality, and a growing crisis of trust in public institutions.
But while the situation seems bleak, we have also seen that positive change is possible and happening around the world.
We heard powerful examples of how investing in the rule of law and SDG 16 can generate tangible dividends for peace, justice, and good governance.
From governments advancing integrated reforms to strengthen institutions and combat corruption; to multilateral institutions showcasing tools that support justice systems and foster transparency; to responsible digital transformation promoting accessibility and accountability; the message was clear: the rule of law delivers results.
Civil society leaders shared how they are empowering communities, while young people showed that they are fully ready to participate in shaping the decisions that affect their futures, and need to be supported to do so.
The renewed Rome Civil Society Declaration offers a compelling call to action—to move from promises to progress and from rhetoric to results.
These collective efforts are essential to build the world we want – one of peace, justice, and sustainable development.
If we are to succeed, we must remain steadfast in our conviction that progress on SDG 16 is not a luxury—it is a necessity to achieve the 2030 Agenda, which remains our best shared blueprint for a brighter future for humanity.
By working together across sectors and borders, we can achieve far more than any one of us could accomplish alone.
At IDLO, we are proud to champion SDG 16 – partnering with all of you to drive meaningful change in people’s lives, close the justice gap, and make a more peaceful, just and sustainable future, a lived reality for all.
Looking ahead, we must seize the opportunities presented at upcoming international forums – the Financing for Development Conference, the High-Level Political Forum, the Food Systems Summit Stocktaking Moment, and the World Summit for Social Development.
At each of them, let us work together to ensure greater political and financial support for SDG 16.
Let us move forward with renewed determination—guided by the urgency of the present moment, and the need to strengthen multilateralism to deliver peace and security, development, and human rights.
Let us stay connected, share our experiences, and support one another in our common journey towards 2030 and beyond.
There is no better investment that we can make in our collective future.
