Silos and synergies: Human rights and the SDGs
Human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) go hand in hand. While they run on parallel tracks, both communities tend to operate within two separate silos.
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Rule of law drives sustainable development at local and global levels
The principles of the rule of law – equality, equity, inclusion, rights, laws and institutions – are embedded throughout the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and well-articulated in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, which aims to “promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels”.
Access to justice and the rule of law enable people to resolve conflicts, claim their rights and seek and obtain remedies. They help to level the playing field between the vulnerable and the powerful by addressing issues of impunity, corruption and discrimination.
That makes SDG 16 a critical driver for the achievement of all other SDGs. Neither food security nor gender equality, neither poverty eradication nor economic development can be advanced without respect for the rule of law.
Having been an ardent advocate for the inclusion of SDG 16 in the 2030 Agenda, IDLO is fully committed to advancing the SDGs. Whether in fragile contexts, emerging democracies or middle-income countries, IDLO contributed to the 2030 Agenda in 2017 through its programs, research and policy advocacy, positioning the rule of law as a key ingredient for sustaining peace and sustainable development.
Building institutions for peace and justice, strengthening accountability, empowering women and girls, fighting corruption, protecting biodiversity and promoting inclusive economic growth are some of the ways in which IDLO’s programs and other activities furthered the implementation of the SDGs in 2017.
Engaging in policy dialogue with governments, donors and policy thinkers at global and national levels in 2017, IDLO highlighted the significance of the rule of law for the achievement of Agenda 2030. Its advocacy was backed by robust research drawing on the lessons learned from its programmatic experience.
Human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) go hand in hand. While they run on parallel tracks, both communities tend to operate within two separate silos.
Customary and informal justice systems represent some of the most complex and even controversial aspects of the justice dialogue. To some, they hold the key to unlocking inclusive societies – to others, they perpetuate inequalities and serve to further marginalize those seeking justice.
From new technologies for legal initiatives to specific recommendations on how to avoid political influence over the judiciary and financing reform, panelists from civil society groups, governments and judiciaries across the world discussed solutions to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.3 –
The Global Conference on SDG 16 opened on May 27, setting the stage for a series of discussions on how to achieve peaceful, just and inclusive societies as enshrined in Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16.
On the margins of the Global Conference on SDG 16, IDLO and UNAIDs convened a side event on the intersection of health and the law, and why reform to criminal law is crucial to improving health, equality and peace.
Civil society representatives convened on 26 May, 2019, the eve of the Global Conference on SDG 16, to discuss their contribution to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16, and its aspirations of promoting peaceful and inclusive societies,
MEDIA ADVISORY | ROME, May 23, 2019 – High-level government officials, heads of international organizations, leading academics, civil society representatives and development experts from around the world will convene in Rome, Italy from May 27-29, 2019 to discuss global progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda.
Strong rule of law institutions are crucial for preventing conflicts and building peace. Effectively promoting the rule of law requires sustained and context-sensitive engagement, quick wins, grassroots partnerships and empowered citizens. Such work needs to involve informal justice mechanisms, combat violence against women and stay engaged during all phases of conflict.