Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, good morning and very warm welcome to the 20 26th edition of the SDG 16 Conference to advance peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
The theme this year, driving transformation and Coordinated Action for Sustainable Development, co organized by the permanent mission of Italy to the United Nations, Unsa, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.
And the International Development Law Organization.
Welcome also to everyone joining us online from around the world.
This event is being webcast live on UN TV.
My name is SkunSnthon Shacks for short.
It is an honor to moderate the opening and first panel of this conference.
Before we begin, we do have simultaneous interpretation for you in all six official UN languages.
Now, to get us started, on the right note, we have His Excellency, Giorgio Maati permanent representative of Italy to the United Nations Ambassador Mapadi.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Excellency, distinguished delegates.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct honor to welcome you to the high level opening session of the seventh edition of the SDG 16 conference, organized together with UNDSA and the IDLO.
I am particularly pleased to have with us the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of my country, Italy, Edmundo Grilli.
I am equally honored by the participation today of the President of the General Assembly, misses Alena Berbck, the President of the Economic and Social Council, our friend Ambassador Latapa, the Deputy Secretary-General, and the UNDP Administrator, Mr.
Dcros.
Allow me also to express Italy's appreciation to our long standing partners, under Secretary-General Lee Eunoi and the Director General of Ido John Bigl for the outstanding joint work with Ts and IDO and the commitment through the years in the preparation of these important annual events.
Excellence is when the first edition of the conference was inaugurated in Rome in 2019, I was serving as Director General for development cooperation with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Since the outset, this process was inspired by Italy's firm belief that peace, justice, and strong institutions are crucial enablers of progress across the entire 2030 agenda.
Witnessing how far it has come since then is, for me, a source of great hope for the future.
Indeed, over the years, from Rome to New York, this conference has grown into the leading global platform on SDG 16.
This year, the legacy of the Rome 2019 conference has also been reaffirmed by a dedicated civil society forum convened yesterday at the UN headquarters, further highlighting the key role of inclusive multi stakeholder dialogue in supporting our common goal.
As we move towards 2030 and the implementation of the Pact for the future and its call for reinvigorating multilateralism, we remain committed to delivering cognizant of the fact that as President Matateo reminded us when he opened the first edition here in New York in 2024, and I quote, Peace, inclusion, and justice are the cornerstones of sustainable development for every country and every society.
In this spirit, I wish us all a fruitful and inspiring conference.
I thank you.
Thank you, Ambassador Maripadi, for your words of welcome and for giving us that context for the conference.
Now, let's hear from His Ecellcy Edmundo Tilli, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, sir.
Thank you, Excellency, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, It is a great honor for me to open the SDG 16 Conference 2026 on behalf of Italy.
Italy is proud to co organize the conference with the UN ESA and IDLO Since 2019, this partnership has helped keep peace, justice, and strong institutions at the center of the international debate on sustainable development.
I also wish to warmly welcome all participants, member states, international organization, institution, and civil society.
Your presence is especially meaningful at a time when peace, justice, and trust in institution under pressure and when multilaterlism must prove its ability to deliver.
The SEDGs have improved millions of lives, but the current pace is not enough.
Only 35% of the targets are on track and show moderate progress.
This should lead us to a more concrete and pragmatic way of working with only four years left before 2030.
Principle remain essential, but they must be followed by implementation.
This year theme, driving transformation and coordinating action for sustainable development respond directly to this challenge.
SDG 16 must be a practical driver of transformation.
Justice, transparency, the rule of law are not simple principles, but concrete enablers.
Strong and inclusive institution are the very infrastructure on which all development goals are built on.
Predictable legal systems, well trained civil servants and spent tax systems, build trust and civic engagement, strengthen the business climate, mobilize domestic resources for development.
Italy strong believers in this vision.
This is the second time I have the honor to open this conference, the first having been in Rome in 2023, in 2024, the president of Italian Republic Sergio Mattera opened the following edition of the conference the first year in New York.
I also had the honor to accompany him on that occasion.
In this year, we have been working to translate this vision into concrete initiative all around the world in the perspective of my team plan for Africa launched by Prime Minister Georgi Meloni, our National School of Administration is training more than 1,000 triangle civil servant from Kowa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tunisia.
Beyond Africa, our commitment to SDGs 16 is global.
We work closely with key partners such as IDLO, UNDP, and UNRWA to strengthen judicial systems and train experts in the Middle East, in the Western Balkans and Central Asia.
I could also mention what we do in Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean, including through Uniq on the resilience of criminal justice institutions with recent work in Mexico and Guatemala.
Or the Falcone and Borsolino program with the Italy Latin American International Organization.
Finally, Italy's financial policy, Guard financia hosts the OECD Tax Academy to strengthen capacity building on financial investigation, asset recovery, and illicit financial flows.
Ladies and gentlemen, with only four years left before 2030, the question is whether we can afford not to invest in peace.
Just it's a strong institution.
The answer is clear.
We cannot.
Italy will continue to do its part.
I wish you all, of course, a productive and successful conference.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you, Deputy Mr.
Trilli for Italy's leadership and for co organizing this conference yet again.
Now let me give the floor to her Ecellcy Annalena Bbach president of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
Good morning, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
Thank you to Italy, Ambassador, Vice Minister, for this very important gathering this morning.
SDG 16 sits at the heart of the Agenda 2030 because peace, justice, and strong institutions determine whether development can take root and endure.
They shape whether people can live free from violence, claim their rights, access public services, participate in decisions, and trust the institutions meant to serve them.
They also connect directly to the three pillars of the United Nations, peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights.
The importance of institutions becomes more apparent when they begin to weaken.
Where institutions are weak, grievances grows.
Where justice is delayed, trust erodes.
Where corruption goes unchecked, public confidence suffers and where the rule of law is ignored nationally or internationally, instability spreads and development becomes harder to sustain.
This is a broader frame in which we must view today's conflicts.
Armed conflict is one of the most visible signs that SDG 16 is under severe strain.
For behind conflict, there are usually lie deeper challenges, exclusion, mistrust, impunity, weak institution, and disregard for international law.
Today, one quarter of humanity lives in conflict affected countries again.
Conflict related death rose by 40% in 2024, which means in practice, life lost every 12 minutes.
These figures are warning about human cost of armed conflict and about the institutional failures that allow them to take hold.
If stronger institutions are part of the solution, then investing in them becomes essential.
Yet, the truth is many countries face shrinking resources to invest in governance, justice, and public institutions again these days.
Official development assistance declined by 6% in 2024 and is projected to fall even further.
This matters because SDG 16 depends on capacity as well as commitment, as we heard before from the Vice Minister.
Courts, parliaments, public administration, human rights institutions, civil registries, and oversight bodies all require sustained investments.
Without them, rights remain abstract, services remain uneven, and accountability remains out of reach.
Yet, as we all know as well, progress is possible.
Around the world, there's evident that investments in stronger institution deliver results.
More countries now have human rights institutions aligned with international standards.
In the time where the UN is challenged every day and some even question whether our work still makes sense, we have to uphold these successes from the past.
Global humicide rates are declining.
140 countries have access to information laws compared with just 14 in 1990, 100 today, in 1990, 2014 only.
This is the success also of the United Nations.
Over 500 million children have recently gained legal identity through birth registration, opening doors to education, health care, protection, and justice.
Again, this is the result of our joint effort and work.
These gains show that stronger institution make possible sustainable development, but also delivering on our principles.
SDG 16 advances when institution protect rights, deliver justice, enable accountability, and give people a meaningful voice in public life.
That is how trust is built and how development becomes more durable.
But this work cannot stop at the national level.
In an interconnected world, national institutions are affected by the strength of the international system around them.
When the charter is disregarded, when international law is weakened, our courts are even attacked or sanctioned, cooperation gives way to mistrust.
The foundation of SDG 16 are weakened as well.
Therefore, the General Assembly has a vital role to play.
As the most representative deliberative body of the United Nations, the assembly is where all member states can reaffirm their commitment to the charter, strengthen cooperation, and help to ensure that global institution remain responsive to the challenge people face.
We have shown that by an increase of the budget, for example, to the ICJ.
This is also central to the right reform agenda, our UN Initiative.
Here we should be candid with ourselves.
Here we should be candid also with our governments.
Trust in the United Nations has suffered over recent decades because of too much duplication and inefficiency.
The blockage of the Security Council and because of this institution has not always lived up to the high standards of equal representation it preaches, including the fact that in more than 80 years there has never been a woman at the helm of this institution or that some continents are not even represented as a permanent member of the Security Council.
Therefore, SDG 16 is also about us and our reforms.
A more coherent, effective, and representative United Nations is essential both for rebuilding trust in this institution and for strengthening its credibility, for delivering on peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights and justice.
As we look towards 2030, SDG 16 must be treated as an accelerator of the entire agenda.
Stronger institution build trust, justice reduces grievance, inclusion strengthen legitimacy, respect for law protects both people and states.
Let us therefore use this conference to renew our collective commitment to SDG 16 in the places where it matters most.
In institutions people can trust, injustice people can reach, in decisions people can shape, and in cooperation that holds our international system together in a strong reform of our United Nations because we know we are always better together.
I thank you.
Thank you, Ambassador Babach, for your rallying call to action.
Also with us this morning, we have his Excency Loajoaa President of the 2026 session of the Economic and Social Council.
Sir, you have the floor.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Madam President of General Assembly, Your Excellency, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Corporation of Italy, UNDP Administrators, USA Lee, NDG of IAD allo.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen.
It is a pleasure actually to join you for the SDG 16 Conference.
I thank the government of Italy, USA, and International Development Law Organizations for your continued and strong leadership and partnership in convening this very important gathering.
Excellencies, the challenge before us is quite clear with only four years remaining to achieve the SDGs, only 36% of the sustainable development goal targets are on track or making moderate progress.
Extreme poverty remains persistently high.
Hunger has returned to levels not seen in nearly two decades.
Global inequality is widening.
Climate impacts are outpacing our adaptive efforts.
Conflicts and geopolitical tensions continue to rise.
Violent conflicts have reached their highest levels in decades.
Over 117 million people have been percebly displaced worldwide.
Several developing countries face heightened debt distress, constraining investment in people and resilience and digital divides remain stark, living with billions without access to the opportunities of modern economy.
Trust in institutions is declining.
These trends remind us that the decades of development progress can be reversed in a matter of months.
Three realities stand out.
First, Progress is not moving fast enough.
Second, progress is increasingly fragile.
Third, without peace, without justice, and without effective institutions, progress across the sustainable development goals will remain out of reach.
This is why SDG 16 matters.
Peace, justice, and effective institutions are not only goals in themselves, they are essential enablers of sustainable development.
Creating the conditions for opportunities, strengthening trust, and helping governments to translate commitment into regions.
For Ecosc this message is particularly important.
Our work is built on the understanding that sustainable development advances faster when institutions are effective.
Decisions is inclusive and partnerships are focused on implementations.
SDG 16 therefore speaks directly to the ECOSOx mandate.
It also speaks directly to the goals under review at the 2026 high level political forum.
Progress in water, energy, infrastructure, sustainable cities, and partnerships depends on institutions that are effective, that are accountable, and that are inclusive.
In many respects, SDG 16 is the connective tissue that links them together.
Excellencies, this conference has an important role to play.
It allows us to take stock of progress and setbacks.
It helps identify practical pathways to accelerate implementations, and it strengthens the partnerships needed to translate commitment into action.
Is the principal United Nations platform for follow up and review of the 2030 agenda.
EcoSc places great importance on discussion such as this.
The experiences, recommendations, and good practices said today can help inform deliberations at the 2026 high level political forum and strengthen collective efforts to accelerate implementations during the final years leading to 2030.
Equally important, this gathering reminds us that implementations cannot be achieved by governments alone.
It requires a whole of government, whole of society approach, bringing together governments, parliamentarians, local authorities, civil society, private sectors, academia, youth leaders, communities, and international partners to build institutions that are effective, that are accountable, that are inclusive, and that are trusted.
Excellencies, distant goods colleagues, at its core, SDG 16 is about trust.
Trust that institutions will serve the public good with integrity, with fairness, and with transparency.
Trust that rights will be protected and justice made accessible to all.
Trust that decisions are made in the public interest and trust that corporations can still deliver solution to shared challenges we are facing.
Without trust, progress on any other goal becomes fragile.
Trust is also the foundations of effective multilateralism.
Without it, collective actions becomes more difficult.
But with it, even the most complex challenges become more manageable.
At a time of growing uncertainty and polarizations, strengthening that trust maybe one of the most important investment we can make for sustainable development.
Let us use this conference to strengthen that trust through honest dialogue, through practical cooperation, and through renewed political will.
I wish you productive discussion and successful conference.
I thank you.
Thank you very much, Ambassador Tapa.
Next up, we have a video message from Her Excellency, Amina Jay Muhammad, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Let's listen to what she has to say.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, I'm pleased to join you for the 2026 SDG 16 Conference.
I thank the government of Italy, the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and IDLO for bringing us together to advance peaceful, just and inclusive societies.
This year's theme, driving transformation and coordinated action for sustainable development, speaks directly to the moment we face.
With less than five years remaining to deliver the 2030 agenda, we need a step change in implementation.
That means strengthening the systems that carry development from global commitments into people's daily lives.
A child receives a legal identity through a public system.
A survivor seeks protection through the rule of law.
A young person claims a voice through participation.
Women and girls seek safety, justice, equal rights, and equal opportunities through systems that either protect and empower them or leave them behind.
A family accesses healthcare, education, justice, and social protection through services that either work or fail them.
That is why SDG 16 is central to the entire 2030 agenda.
It is where peace, justice, governance, and implementation meet.
It turns promises into services, it turns rights into realities, it turns public resources into public goods, and it turns participation into trust.
Today, that trust is sadly under strain.
In many places people see public systems as distant, unequal, and unresponsive.
Corruption erodes confidence, justice is delayed or denied.
Decisions are made without those most affected.
Women and girls, these failures can mean violence unaddressed, rights unprotected, and voices excluded from decisions that shape their lives.
When governance fails to deliver, grievances grow, social contracts weaken, peace becomes more fragile and sustainable development is placed at risk.
But when systems are inclusive, transparent, and accountable, they can rebuild trust, prevent conflict, protect rights, and manage the transitions our world urgently needs.
The PAC for the future gives us a clear mandate to renew multilateralism, strengthen human rights, advance peaceful and inclusive societies, and build public institutions that serve people effectively.
Our task now is to translate that mandate into real results in people's lives.
That requires coordinated action.
Justice systems must work with social protection systems, anti corruption efforts must be linked to public financial management.
Local authorities must be connected to national planning.
Civil society must have the space to contribute, monitor, and hold decision makers accountable, and women and girls must be able to participate fully, safely, and equally in public life.
We must also be clear, governance, justice, and public administration are not administrative overhead.
They are the infrastructure of implementation.
Without capable public systems, financing cannot reach people who need it most.
Without transparency and accountability, resources are lost.
Without justice and the rule of law, rights remain out of reach.
Excellencies, dear friends, let us use this conference to move from commitment to delivery.
Let us invest in systems that serve, listen, and deliver.
Systems that are trusted because they are fair, effective, and grounded in rule of law.
The United Nations stands ready to support you.
I wish you fruitful and productive discussions.
Thank you.
Let's move from commitment to delivery.
We thank miss Mohammed for her message.
Let's get the thoughts now of Mr.
Alexander DC, administrator of UNDP, the United Nations Development Program, Alexander, the floor is yours.
Yes.
Thank you.
Excellency colleagues, great to see so many of you to talk about something which is more than a goal.
SDG 16, it is not just one of the 17.
From our perspective, it is really the bedrock of development.
With anti corruption, without governance, without rule of law, without accountability, Many of the things that make development tangible, providing healthcare, providing education, having a safe environment for people to develop, having inclusive and diverse societies, fighting climate change, having a private sector that grows and that provide jobs and that provide surplus income, which give people access to financial services.
All those things that make development tangible in the daily lives of people, All of that is impossible if you do not have a certain level of stability.
If you don't have a certain level of accountability.
From our perspective, it is the foundation of development.
It's also the operating system.
You will not have sustainable investment happening if there's not a certain level of stability.
You will not have people who engage themselves in building their societies, if they don't feel safe, that they will be protected in doing so, and also be protected and sometimes they fail.
Have to be clear.
Development is hard work.
It is something we do every day.
It is something with great successes, but it's from time to time also things that we have to admit, look, these were good intentions, but in the end, it doesn't work out.
All of that can only function if you have that environment SDG 16 tries to create.
UNDP as a development organization and as the backbone of the development structure of the United Nations, we do this day to day.
There is no country office that we have today where governance is not at the core of the work that we do.
Now, that is hard because as many of you have indicated in the introductions, convincing to get financing to do so.
Be it donor financing or being it domestic financing, it is harder than ever.
Not because people see it as less important, but because we see how development is evolving and it is becoming more transactional, it is becoming a bit more short term.
By definition, these investments are things which have a longer term effect.
Still, Um, on a yearly basis, we continue doing this and continue doing this really at the center of what we do.
Last year, we helped more than 450 million people in giving access to justice, giving access to government services, helping governments in fighting corruption, organizing civic participation, and that is in countries from Sri Lanka to Iraq to Guinea Bissau to Egypt.
The same on democracy.
Over the past years, we've helped more than 900 million people exercising their democratic rights.
And many of you have talked about trust.
From our perspective, trust comes when there is delivery and both are intimately linked one with another.
We can talk about trust and talking about trust is great.
Building trust is something you do with delivery.
We're showing that governance works for the people.
There, technology, being a digital technology and AI, we see it as a great enabler and there is a lot of considerations related to technology from a development organization point of view, technology is an incredible enabler also in democratic rights and in governance.
But there is a potential downside and as much as we believe in the upside, we also have to take into account that democratic values, governance values are under attack by technology and by the environment that it creates an environment in which I think human beings, frankly, we have not found the right balance of operating it.
I hope I convinced you that for us, development work and governance is intimately linked one with another.
We thank our Italian friends for putting that also at the core of what they do at their AI hub for sustainable development in Rome, which really helps us in having governance built on trust, but trust being something which is built on delivery that we do day to day.
Thank you, Mr.
President.
Thank you, Alexander, for sharing our UNDP's perspective with us with its crucial and expansive practical experience and expertise.
Now, Ambassador Babach I understand you have to leave us.
Thank you very much for your time with us today.
We really appreciate it.
Now, it's over to Mr.
Li Jin Ha, you and Under Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, with a statement on behalf of co organizer, Yen Dassa.
Mr.
Li, it is all yours.
Thank you.
Good morning, Excellence Institute Distinguished participants.
Dear UN colleagues, all the protocol observed.
Welcome all of you to the SDG 16 Conference 2026.
I extend my sincere gratitude to the permanent mission of the Italy and the International Development Law Organization for once again partnering with the UNDSA to convege this important global event.
This conference comes at a critical moment as the world continues to navigate the multiple intersecting crises, progress towards the sustainable development goals is seriously off track.
Just now we heard a very touching figures.
This reality highlights the urgent need for not only the renewed commitment, but the decisive coordinated action.
Letter imperative this reflected in this year's conference the driving transformation and coordinated action for sustainable development.
Today's discussion will examine how investments in peace, justice, and effective institutions can catalyze the progress across the entire 2030 agenda.
It would also provide an opportunity to identify practical solutions and reinforce the SDG 16 as a critical enabler of the progress across all gas.
At the core of this effort, rebuilding trust between citizens and institutions is fundamental.
Institutions must be transparent, accountable, and responsive, delivering results for all.
Strengthening institutional capacity, expanding participation, and protecting rights are essential to building inclusive societies.
Digital transformation brings both opportunities and risks.
Technology can improve the inclusion and services, but only with strong safeguards to protect the rights and limited inequality.
Achieving this vision cannot be the work of government alone.
Progress on SDG 16 requires collaboration across society, bringing together governments, civil society, local authorities, youth, women leaders, academia, and the private sector.
Looking ahead, the 2027 SDG summit will offer a crucial opportunity to renew our collective commitment to building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies and to strengthen the institutions needed to achieve them.
I'm confident that today's deliberations will yield practical recommendations and actionable ideas that will contribute to the upcoming high level political forum and helped lay the solid groundwork for the SDG summit.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Lee.
Thanks again to you and DSA for co organizing this conference along with Italy and the International Development Law Organization.
I give the floor now to miss Jan Begl, Director General of the IDLO.
Jan.
Thank you very much, Vice Minister Chiri, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, friends.
It's a pleasure to add my words of welcome and to thank the government of Italy and you and DSA for their continued partnership.
As we know, with just four years remaining for the completion of the 2030 agenda, the gap between ambition and implementation is wide.
We in Adilo believe that SDG 16, with the rule of law at its core, remains our most strategic asset to overcome the confluence of crises that the world is currently facing.
Whether the goal is to reduce conflict and violent extremism, to eradicate poverty, to promote gender equality, combat corruption, or foster stable environments for trade, we need trusted institutions, clear rules, and fair processes.
So drawing on Adios experience working in some 100 countries in all regions, I'd like to offer three ways in which we believe we can leverage SDG 16 to rebuild trust and accelerate progress on the 2030 agenda.
First, we must focus relentlessly on results.
People judge institutions not by declarations, but by the solutions they deliver in everyday life.
M has been said about trust.
I believe that results are the most powerful currency of trust, justice that is accessible and timely for everyone, particularly women and girls.
Institutions that are accountable and transparent and services that are fair and visible.
These are at the core of ID Los people centered approach.
Second, we need to make the contribution of SDG 16 more tangible across the entire 2030 agenda.
At a time when issues like food security, access to land, and the rising cost of living at the top of people's minds, the vital role of enabling and legal environments is often overlooked.
To tackle complex development challenges and maximize impact, we must partner across silos.
When IDO works on land reform, investment support, or public health, we aim to complement rather than duplicate and to bring the legal infrastructure and expertise that is sometimes missing.
My final point is that we must reinvigorate political and financial support for peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
At a time of expanding priorities and shrinking resources, this is not easy, as the administrator has said.
We need to make a stronger case for keeping the rule of law high on national and global agendas and for investment in SDG 16 as a driver of resilience, stability, and sustainable development.
If I might add as an international gender champion, investment in SDG five.
These two goals are truly cross cutting and transformative.
Since its first edition in 2019, this conference has provided a space for multi stakeholder dialogue to share evidence, exchange experiences, promote innovation, and strengthen partnerships for implementation.
It's a true pleasure to see many long standing partners from governance, governments, the multilateral system, and civil society here today along with some new faces.
My colleagues and I look forward to our discussions and to continuing to work with you to accelerate progress on SDG 16 and to keep it at the center of efforts to advance peace and development through 2030 and beyond.
Thank you.
Thank you for your galvanizing message.
Results are the most powerful currency of trust.
Jan, everyone, thank you very much indeed for kicking off the conference for us.
It's coming at such a crucial time.
Again, thank you very much, indeed to all our opening speakers.
Thank you, sir.
If I could now ask our speakers for panel one to please come on up and join me.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, sir.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Panel one, please come up and join me.
Thank you, Ambassador Tapa.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Everybody up here? Right.
If you're just joining us on behalf of the permanent mission of Italy to the United Nations, UNSA, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the International Development Law Organization.
Welcome to this conversation taking stock of progress on SDG 16 and the presentation of the 2026 Civil Society Declaration on SDG 16 plus.
As our opening speakers highlighted, this comes at a time of mounting global challenges.
Inequalities are widening, civic space is shrinking climate impacts are accelerating and instability is on the rise.
As a result, the window to achieve the 2030 agenda is narrowing at an alarming pace.
As of 2025, as we've been hearing, only about 35% of SDG targets are on track and SDG 16 is no exception, in fact, across many of its core dimensions, peace and security, rule of law, access to information, transparency, and participation.
We are seeing stagnation or even regression.
This highlights a growing gap know we need peaceful, just, and inclusive societies with effective, accountable institutions to make progress across all the goals.
But we also know this trust in public institutions continues to erode, undermining that progress.
Building peaceful, just, and inclusive societies and strong, effective institutions demands contributions by all actors with civil society organizations at the forefront of advocacy, the defense of human rights, and also efforts to promote accountability at all levels, local, national, and global.
This panel provides an opportunity for us to take a clear eyed look at where we stand, assess progress, identify persistent gaps, and explore emerging challenges and opportunities across the many dimensions of SDG 16.
It will also showcase efforts, including the 2026 Civil Society Declaration on SDG 16 plus, which aims to amplify civil society perspectives and help drive collective action forward.
We are fortunate to be joined by a distinguished panel of expert speakers who bring both global perspectives and practical insights on the scale of the challenges that we face.
Also that meaningful progress is possible, as we heard Ambassador Babach say, and we have with us His Excellency, Jeffrey Kringa Ruku, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Human Capital Development at Kenya's Ministry of Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programs.
His Excellency Inocencio Florentino ug Impisa, Minister of State Administration and Public Service at the Ministry of State Administration and Public Service of Mozambique.
His Excellcy Olvi Mediev Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations of Azerbijan.
His Excellency, Alejandro Entnez Najera, Vice Minister for Good Governance Secretariat at Mexico's Ministry of Anti Corruption and Good Governance.
Mr.
Hilda DeCosta, the General Secretary of the G seven plus Secretariat.
And at the other end of our panel, we have Mr.
Ajmal Ramya, Executive Director of Afghans for Progressive Thinking.
That's a youth led nonprofit organization working to promote human rights and girls education in Afghanistan.
And miss Natalia Pérez Pérez, founder and director of Fund Sn Latire a youth led nonprofit organization based in Colombia that works with rural communities through peace education.
Thank you all for being here with us today.
We also have a video message later on from the Executive Director of UNODC, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
We will continue to have simultaneous interpretation for you and all six official UN languages, and we look forward to hearing your views.
We will be opening the floor up to interventions later on.
We do encourage you when it comes time to ask our speakers questions as well and not just make statements alone.
As we have a packed program and a tight schedule, we would really appreciate all our speakers to keep to your allocated time, please so we can share this conversation.
We thank you in advance.
We have a countdown clock for you that you can see on your displays.
I hope it will pop up when you start speaking and when your time is up, the microphone will blink.
I will also let you know if we need to move on.
Thank you for your understanding.
We have allocated you 5 minutes each for your initial interventions.
Again, thank you for keeping to that as closely as you can.
This will allow us to have this interactive discussion later on with time for questions and answers.
Without further ado.
Let's begin with you, please, Cabinet Secretary Ruku.
As we take stock of progress on SDG 16, I have a multi barreled question for you.
So what measures has Kenya taken to strengthen public institutions, promote accountable and citizen centered service delivery? Also, what's been done to advance inclusive and digital governance, and what lessons do these efforts offer for building more trusted, inclusive, and resilient societies? Sir, Thank you very much, Excellency, distinguished panelists and ladies and gentlemen.
That's a very good question on what Kenya has done in all the space of SDG 16.
From 2010 when Kenya the new constitution, the devolution became a thing in the Republic of Kenya.
We have 47 county government as well as national government and the work in consultation as far as the constitution says.
But before I get into more details as far as the question is concerned, allow me from the onset to convey my warm greetings from the government and people of the Republic of Kenya and to express my appreciation for the opportunity to participate in this important conversation on SDG goal 16.
Kenya views sustainable development goals, 16 as a cross cutting an of the entire 2030 agenda.
We cognize that peace justice and strong institutions are prerequisite to sustainable development and are fundamental to fostering trust between the state and its citizens.
Kenya has made considerable progress in consolidating democratic governance and strengthening institutions since promulgation of our constitution 2010, as I have said.
Today, the county operates and the devolved system comprising of 47 county governments, which has importantly enhanced citizens' participation and brought service closer to the people.
Judiciary has expanded access to justice through digitization and alternative dispute resolution mechanism, Wpowment continued to strengthen legislative oversight and public participation lawmaking, which is very key in law that does not meet the public participation threshold is normally annulled at high court and quite a number of decisions from both the executive and parliament which have not followed citizen participation have been annulled again and again by our judicial system.
On the digital governance, Kenya as emerged as a continental leader through e citizen platforms where more than 23,000 Government services have been digitized and we still have a long way to go, as well as having Udu Kenya platform where it enables access to thousands of government services electronically, contributing to greater efficiency, transparency, and convenience in our villages across the Republic of Kenya.
Within the public service, the capacity development remains a key period of institutional strengthening.
2022-2026, over 2,200 public officers have benefited from different training in different countries, technical courses supported through institutional cooperation, which varies at about 480 million USD.
These gains have strengthened institutional effectiveness and service delivery across all arms or levels of government.
But more importantly is the commitment of the decision makers from the top level of the government that services to the citizens, whether judicial services or justice services, government services, public services are it is a commitment for all of us who are decision making, who are decision makers at high level of government.
Nevertheless, challenges remain in combating corruption, reducing inequalities, addressing emerging cyber threats, and strengthening public trust in the institutions which we have as a government and the people of the Republic of Kenya.
Several lessons have been learned from Kenyan experience.
One, that institution matters.
The query of institution is directly influences peace, economic growth, as well as social coercion of the people.
Investment in people is investment in institution.
Digital transformation is defining governance, which is very, very key.
Again, Kenyan government is taking this as a very serious pillar.
We are working towards unified digital government to ensure all government institutions can talk to each other and reduce the red tapes and bureaucratic systems which people or citizens go through when accessing government services.
But to achieve this, we need partnership to accelerate progress and partnership is both international cooperation, well as having training opportunities, international training opportunities, while at the same time, cooperation with other countries and this has been happening.
We thank the government of Japan, India, Korea, South Korea, Germany, Spain, Australia, United Kingdom, and Netherlands who have been key in cooperation towards training and finally, inclusivity is indispensable.
The implementation of SDC 16 has demonstrated that peace and institutional legitimacy strengthened when citizens are actively engaged and when no one is left behind.
Excellency, vision 2030 identified good governance, rule of law, transparency and accountability as critical drivers of national transformation.
Accordingly, progress in SDG 16 has had a multiplier effect across all the pillars of vision 2030, which include strong institutions that have enabled more efficient service delivery, improved investment in climate and economic competencies, create social coercion, better implementation of public policies, enhance access to justice and more inclusive governance.
Also, as a government, we have what we call as Kenya's bottom up economic transformation.
I'm going to jump in here.
You've exceeded your time limit, but if you could wrap up your last thought now, please.
Thank you, Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, Excellencies, Kenya experience confirm that strong institutions are the foundation upon which peace, justice, and sustainable development are built.
Our journey to SDG 16 has taught us that investment in human capital, digital transformation, citizen participation, and partnership yield dividend, far beyond governance in it accelerated progress through the entire development agenda.
As we approach 2030, Kenya remain committed in strengthening effective, accountable, inclusive institution, and to working with all stakeholders in building peaceful and inclusive societies for present and future generation.
I thank you all.
Thank you, Cabinet Stephy Ruku for sharing those lessons and insights into what Kenya is doing.
Thank you also for understanding my jumping in there.
Minister, in Pisa, we could come to you now.
Please enlighten us on what Mozambique is doing to advance the targets of SDG 16.
Thank you very much, Excellencies, distinguished delegates.
Ladies and gentlemen, I will focus on my speech.
It's a privilege to address in this conference on behalf of the government and people of Mozambique.
SDG 16 holds a central place in Mozambique's development agenda.
We understand all that from our own experience that there cannot be a sustainable development without peace, no lasting peace without justice, and no effective justice without strong, transparent, and inclusive institutions.
In this intervention, I will address each of these pillars so that on the sustainable development, Mozambique is implementing a comprehensive set of reforms aligned with the the 2030 agenda, our national Development Strategies 25 foot four sets out a long term vision for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable development grounded in the economic transformation, human development, climate adaptation, environmental sustainability, and good governance.
It goals includes reducing poverty, expanding energy access, improving social services, and strengthening public institutions.
With support from the United Nations and development partners, Mozambique continues to integrate the SDGs into planning instrument at all levels of government, strengthening the capacity of local governments to implement and monitor the 2030 agenda in a territorized manner.
Our strategic bet is on structural transformation adding domestic value, diversifying economy, and equipping our population with a quality, technical and professional education that enables development reaches all Mozambiquen and leaves no one behind.
On peace and justice, Mozambique Israel taught us that peace is not simply absence of conflict.
It is the active presence of justice.
It is access to a well being.
It is recognition of diversity as wealth rather than threat.
Our national experience built on decades of dialogue and reconciliation demonstrates that no country in the world can build itself solidly without peace and national unity as foundational priorities.
No justice can thrive when there are instability and no young people can find opportunities in an environment of fear, insecurity, and instability.
In this period, since the end of 2025, Mozambique has been conducting an inclusive national dialogue launched by His Excellence, Daniel Chapo, the president of the Republic of Mozambique, a political process aimed at consolidating peace, national reconciliation, and stability following a period of post electoral tensions we have lived in Mozambique.
The dialogue seeks to strengthen the national unity, deepen democracy, and promote more participatory and decentralized governance.
Significant challenges remain overcoming then requires sustained inclusive dialogue, social justice, economic opportunities for young people, stronger state institution and active community participation in peace building.
These are not only aspirations.
They are the preconditions for the SDG 16 vision we all share.
By investing in these areas, Mozambique can create an environment conductive to sustainable development in line with the principles of SDG 16.
On good governance, the third pillar, must and be experience confirms a fundamental truth that can be not sustainable development without strong institution.
And strong institution with our public trust, citizen participation and governance.
Our efforts in this area includes administrative decentralization, expanded citizen participation in public management, implementation of accountability, transparency, and service delivery.
The recently established School of Governance in Mozambique reflects our commitment to results based on public management and professional services.
Progress has been made, incremental improvements in public service delivery, the strengthening of governance and oversight institution, and the gradual experience of digital solutions are contributing to make more inclusive, transparent, and effective governance in direct alignment with the principles of SDG 16.
The outlook also points to progress in strengthening results based on public management and professionalizing the civil service through the recently established school of governments.
As I conclude, let me say that Mozambique strongly supports the strengthening of mutual beneficial partnership, resource mobilization, and the sharing of best practice to accelerate progress towards SDG 16 and broader 2030 agenda.
Mozambique will continue to work with determination alongside civil society, the private sector, and the United Nations and partner countries to build a future of peace, justice, inclusion, and prosperity for all.
Thank you for your attention.
Thank you.
Thank you, Minister Epista for sharing your country's efforts and also some of the challenges that Mozambique faces.
By the way, our wonderful speakers, the countdown clock does not seem to be working.
So if you could look out for the linking microphone, that is your sign that your time is up.
I shall do my best not to jump in.
Let's find out now what's happening in Azerbaijan.
Mr.
Medv, can you share examples, please, with us of how Azerbijan is leveraging public service innovation to strengthen transparency, improve equitable access to public services and advance inclusive governance.
Thank you, miss Cenurion.
When we speak about public service innovation, we are not only referring to digital tools or modern technologies.
More importantly, we are speaking about the new philosophy of governance, and that places the citizen at the center, makes public institutions more transparent and accountable, and ensures that services are accessible to everyone regardless of their location, backgrounds or social status.
In this context, ASN S represents Azerbijan flagship reform in public service delivery.
Established in 2012 with the initiative of the President of Azerbijan, Assam has transformed the base citizens interact with government by integrating transparency, efficiency, accessibility, and direct human interaction into service delivery.
Today, Assam provides more than 400 public services and maintains over 90% citizen satisfaction, which reflects strong public trust in the model.
From the perspective of transparency, ASAN has introduced a one stop shop model that reduces unnecessary bureaucracy, minimizes direct informal interaction with multiple agencies, and ensures that services are delivered through clear procedures and fixed timelines, and standardized fees.
This has helped strengthen accountability, prevent corruption risks, and build a more predictable and citizen centered public administration.
ASAN also makes a significant impact on SDG 16 by fostering transparency, integrity, and public trust within the administration.
Through simplified procedures, digitalization, open feedback mechanisms, and ethical service standards, AssN contributes directly to building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.
It also supports equal access to justice related and administrative services by ensuring that citizens can receive services in a fair, transparent, and non discriminatory manner.
In terms of equitable access, ANs approach is based on an on channel service delivery model.
Citizens can access services through physical assign centers, mobile assigned buses, e services, mobile applications, call centers, and other digital platforms.
This ensures that services are not limited to people living in major cities, but are also accessible to citizens in remote regions, rural communities, and vulnerable groups.
At the same time, while digitalization is essential, ASNs model also recognizes the importance of direct human interaction.
For us, citizens opinions are extremely important.
That's why ASN continuous to collect feedback through survey satisfaction assessment, citizen comments, and service quality monitoring.
This feedback is not symbolic, it is used to improve services, identify gaps, and ensure that reforms are based on real citizen needs.
Assan Services Success has also received strong international recognition, including in the UN Public Service Award in 2015, and the UN Special Award in 2019, and the best government service in the World Award in 2023.
Assam service is also actively expanding its international reach.
Assam model has been shared and adapted in several countries, including Pakistan, Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Indonesia, and Afghanistan.
Currently, cooperation on the implementation and adaptation of the Assam model is ongoing with more than 30 countries.
Furthermore, Assam has signed numerous memorandum of understanding and continues to develop new partnerships worldwide.
In addition to these collaborations, one of the most significant milestones for us has been the establishment of the T Fund with the United Nations in November 2024.
The trans Fund focuses on building capacity and enhancing public service delivery, particularly in least development countries, LDC and small island developing states.
Overall, ASN is not only a national reform success story, but also an internationally recognized model that contributes to stronger institutions, citizen trust, and more responsive governance.
Thank you for your attention.
You have bang on time there.
Thank you, Mr.
Mediev.
Now let's hear from Vice Miser Najra.
How is Mexico advancing good governance to prevent corruption? Your country has a new approach to this, I understand.
What lessons are there from this new approach to strengthen accountability reporting mechanisms and integrity in public service? Sir, Well, good morning, all.
I'm going to speak in Spanish.
First of all, I want to thank the organizers for the opportunity to participate in this discussion on SDG 16.
I want to start with a broader comment and then I'll tell you about what we're doing in Mexico four years before the deadline of the 2030 agenda.
The first question that we have to ask ourselves is, what do the advances and and the opposite tell us about it.
There's a paradoxical situation.
First of all, democracy has consolidated itself as the most legitimate form of government without any competitors.
At the same time, it's encountering growing challenges of disinformation and actors that seek to erode democratic institutions from inside.
The challenge is particularly complex because in many cases, these threats use the very instruments of democratic institutions to weaken them.
Threatening their defense mechanisms.
So the expectations of citizens are very high, much higher than the capacity of states to respond to these threats and citizens require more open governments, more nimble services, and more rapid solutions to increasingly more complex problems.
Precisely, digital technologies have expanded the capacities of governments to inform, to provide transparent, and to reach out to the citizenry.
At the same time they've radically transformed the public space.
Today, we coexist with algorithms that prioritize um that prioritize conflict in some ways.
There's a fourth paradox, and that is the main challenges of our times are increasingly global climate change pandemics, migration flows, organized crime transnational organized crime corruption.
Never before have we needed as much international cooperation as today, and yet we're witnessing a concerning weakening of multilateralism precisely when we need it most.
All these challenges have something in common.
They require institutions that are stronger than the ones that we have built up to now, both at the national and the supernational level.
In the face of this situation, I want to share a few thoughts regarding the development of institutions, preventing corruption and promoting good governance.
From the Mexican perspective, one of the main lessons of the past few years is that the prevention is more effective than a punishment.
During decades, most of the anti corruption efforts were focused on Detecting irregularities, investigating who's responsible, and punishing undue conduct.
Obviously, this continues to be necessary, but we have learned that the most effective institutions are those that are capable of anticipating risks before they become problems.
This is why more and more relevant in my country is administrative management, digitalization, transparency, and the very design of policies and traceability in all administrative processes.
Lastly, we have learned that the development of integrity cannot only be this responsibility of governments.
Corruption is a complex phenomena that involves multiple actors that work in a network.
Therefore, there should be a shared responsibility with civil society and the private sector in Mexico.
We're promoting initiatives at the school level geared towards young people and students to think about public ethics, legality, and the value of the public services.
Our goal is not only to shape better public servants, but also to shape Mexican generations that are more and more intolerant to corruption.
Frequently, we think of SDG 16 as just one an additional SDG among in addition to all the others.
However, I agree with those who spoke before me.
This SDG is a driver of the entire 2030 agenda.
Thank you.
Thank you, Vice Miner Nahara and now over to General Secretary DeCosta, Hilda, from the experience of the G seven plus in fragile and conflict affected areas.
What are the key lessons learned in strengthening public institutions and advancing state building? How can these lessons inform more effective implementation of the 2030 agenda and the Pact for the future? Thank you, moderator.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, all protocol observed.
When the G seven plus group advocated for a standalone goal on peace and justice, it was not born from academic theory, but from the raw lived experiences of our nation, spanning from Timlaesa to West Africa, from the Caribbean to the Middle East.
The lesson stands above all others.
Sustainable development cannot be achieved without peace and peace cannot be sustained without effective, legitimate, and accountable institutions.
Today with only four years left until 2030 deadline, we are witnessing an alarming systemic regression across all three pillars of this goal.
I therefore, in this conference, share institutionally and personally and commend the declaration issued by civil society today or yesterday with a new acronym called STAN.
From the GN plus perspective, let the H data from recent global assessment confront us.
First, the 2026 Global Peace Index warns that there are now 61 active state based conflicts globally, the highest number recorded since 1945, overwhelming driven by compass internationalized interstate conflicts.
The World Justice Project Rule of Law Index reveals a sharp acceleration in the global rule of law recession with 68% of Soviet countries experiencing a distinct decline in their justice and legal scores.
Simultaneously, UN agencies reports confirmed that the civic spikes are contracting at an unprecedented rate while unyielding court backlog leave nearly 30% of the global prison population trapped in pretrial detention.
While these are well known reflections from global reports, we all witness the collapse of the Republic and its institutional frameworks in Afghanistan, erosion of constitutional orders in some countries in Africa and Asia, and the devastating unfolding crisis in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Yemen, and Haiti.
Despite these challenges, hopes for fuels Our aspirations.
Experience from around the world and from the GCM plus offer profound positive lessons in building peace, stability, and resilience among member states like Timor-Leste, my home country, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Chad, and Solomon Islands.
I wish to share with the audience three fundamental lessons that can inform our path forward toward the implementation of SDGs and the pact for the future.
First, the primacy of peaceful conflict resolution.
At a time when multilateral frameworks are fractured by major power rivalries, the global South has an opportunity to lead by example.
Promoting peer to peer mediation efforts, guiding political transitions through the lens of national inclusivity and human dignity.
Second, inclusive national ownership.
Progress on peace, access to justice, and state building required that countries and their citizens themselves define priorities, lead reforms, and take responsibility for implementation.
My own country stimulation demonstrates that building national consensus through democratic process produce long lasting peace.
Any process and intervention that excludes local citizens yields on short term outputs, risking an immediate reversal of development goals.
Third, institution building requires patience and long term commitment.
Building capable institutions cannot be accomplished within a single project cycle or political mandate.
It requires sustained investment in public administration, civil service capacity, justice systems, and local governance.
I believe those ministers who are sitting here, the witness of this long process of institution building.
In conclusion, as we look forward to the implementation of the Agenda 2030 and the path for the future, let us move past this episodic crisis management.
Let us commit to country led partnerships, invest heavily in dialogue, building the trust and protect the civic space that hold governance accountable.
I thank you for your attention.
Hear, hear.
Thank you, Helga.
Time now for that message on video from miss Monica Catina ma, Executive Director of UNODC as custodian and co custodian of many SDG 16 indicators.
UNODC plays a key role in monitoring this goal.
Let's see what she has to say.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to address this annual SDG 16 conference as we take stock of progress on Agenda 2030.
Since the adoption a decade ago, the SDGs have helped improve millions of lives.
Nonetheless, the latest progress report shows that none of the SDG 16 targets are fully on track.
In some cases, progress is even reversing.
This conference therefore offers the opportunity to galvanize action and reaffirm our commitment.
As an enabler of all the other goals, SDG 16 is the promise that a child can grow up free from violence, that a woman seeking help is met with dignity and care, and that communities can trust institutions designed to serve and protect them.
That same promise guides UNODC joint work with UNFBA and UNDP on making all spaces safe, which aims to help women and girls affected by technology facilitated gender based violence, access protection, support, and justice.
If we fail to deliver on that promise, the consequences are clear, more violence, more inequality, and more exploitation.
The good news is that more countries are improving their capacities to monitor SDG 16 indicators, providing the evidence for stronger action.
The civilian commitment also offers a clear path to close the SDG financing gap, particularly in developing countries.
It is a call to revitalize global financing and a call we must answer together.
Governments, civil society, and the private sector, academia and technology companies all have a role to play.
Let us act now to deliver on the promise of SDG 16 and build more peaceful, just, and safer societies for all.
Thank you.
Thank you, miss er, for your message and that collective call to action.
Let's hear now from our speakers from civil society organizations with insights on the 2026 Civil Society Declaration on SDG 16 plus.
This has been a feature of SDG 16 conferences since its first edition in 2019, and it highlights showcases that governments alone in isolation, as we know, cannot achieve SDG 16.
We know partnerships are crucial.
We've heard that many times today.
Governments must work with the private sector, with civil society.
As before, thank you to our speakers for keeping to your 5 minutes each as closely as you can.
That microphone will blink when your time is up.
Let's start with you, Ajman.
What does civil society see as some of the key challenges and gaps regarding SDG 16 plus issues? How is this reflected addressed in this year's Civil Society Declaration, Ajman? Thank you so much.
Your Excellency is distinguished guests.
It's privilege to contribute to this discussion on behalf of the civil society.
The 2026 Civil Society Declaration was brought together through an interactive process bringing together civil society organization from around the world.
Next to issuing a survey for inputs to this declaration, we have also organized two consultation sessions where inputs and drafts were discussed in responding to your question by highlighting the key challenges and gaps that described in this latest interaction of the Civil Society Declaration of SDG 16, First, the world is in poly crisis, conflict is at record level.
Political, economy, climate, and governance shocks are no longer isolated.
They reinforce one another.
The 2025 UN security reports tell us that the progress is not merely stalling.
They are actively progressing on 18% of the SDGs, and the SDGs specifically none of the 12 targets are on track.
Through my work at Afghans for Progressive Thinking, I work with young people across Afghanistan who live under restrictive environment.
Afghanistan is one of the examples of the Polk crisis due to the failure in governance, human rights, and international diplomacy.
We see conflict, poverty, climate change, instability, and weak governance all happening at the same time.
The country is facing one of the worst humanitarian crisis now with more than 23 million people needing help, where floods, droughts destroy their livelihood.
At the same time, the Taliban rule have removed inclusive governance, leaving people with no trust in institutions.
This show clearly how different crisis don't stay separate in a state, they add up and push the whole society into chaos.
For many people in Afghanistan, this makes the goal of peace, justice, and a strong institution under the SDG 16 feel almost impossible.
Second, civic space is shrinking dramatically.
The civic monitor found that only 7.2% of the world population lives in open civic spaces.
The democracy report tells us that 72% of world population now lives under autocratic rule.
Human rights defenders, journalists and community leaders face civilians, legal repression, campaigns, and forced exile.
This is not trend confined to one region, it's global.
For example, in Afghanistan civic space almost disappeared under the Taliban room.
We see VCE silence through bans on education, restriction on movement, and constant threat to those who try to raise their ices.
At our organization, we see this is that every day that most of the people, young woman, they raise their ices, they're forced to push Hardly they have been threatened, they have been detained while many of youth are forced to leave the country and operate underground.
Third, we witnessed unprecedented funding crisis.
In 2025, the ODA fell by 26.4%, the largest record drop in history.
At the same time, global military spending reached nearly 2.9.
Trillion, which are worth choosing weapons over well being.
This hits local civil society organizations hardest as this is the most dependent on the funding, sustained local peace building and justice work in the communities.
We also witnessed this in the context of Afghanistan where the collapse of international aid hit local organization who rely on small grants to support people who are in need.
For justice remain out of the reach for most people, 5.1 billion people, roughly two thirds of humanity lack access to justice, civilians, deaths in conflict rose to 40% in 2024.
Also the cutting across all mult racism itself is under strain.
In the declaration we have listed, which you can also find at the end of this room, the full version of it, it will cover the change that the course are currently on and also providing recommendation that what needs to be done and how.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Thank you so much, Ajmal, for outlining, summarizing the 2026 Civil Society Declaration for us, especially through the lens of your vital work in Afghanistan.
Now, over to you, Natalia, please tell us about some of the tangible recommendations in this year's Civil Society Declaration calling for transformative and accelerated action on SDG 16.
Thank you and thank you, everyone here in the room.
Let's do something a little bit different.
Let's leave your phones, computers, notebooks side and just try to connect for a few minutes with us.
I'll share some recommendations, but I'll do it from the lens of dreaming together, how would the world be if those recommendations are happening? Not just a plan, not just a roadmap, but a reality.
Then you can find them in the declaration too.
So please leave anything you have any distraction and just close your eyes for a minute if you feel comfortable and breathe in, breathe out, breathe in.
Breathe out and connect with the world we are living today with the inequalities, the violence, the uncertainty that we are experiencing individually and collectively in every country.
How are you experiencing? Which are your concerns? How do you feel? Now, think about those initiatives, actions, people who gives you hope.
Think about your own path.
The one that brought you here to the UN, the causes you defend, the transformations you seek for, the world you dream and act to build.
How does that look? How does your loved ones experience this world? How do you feel? There is an important path to walk and everyone needs to stand together to achieve this world, a world in which with the S, we find a strengthened civic space, democracy and civil society, a world in which each government enact and enforces legislation that protects civic space.
In which the UN system has structured meaningful civil society participation across all UN processes, a world in which we find the strength, the impact, the meaningful changes that we can co create when all sectors actively are involved.
The T, the transformation of financing towards economic justice, a world in which donors honor their ODA commitments and stop redirecting development finance toward military spending, where the funding reaches local organizations directly through flexible multi year core funding that communities themselves have designed, in which we heavily developing countries have blinding debt relief, in which we can account for people centered justice ending impunity because governments embedded access to justice across all functions of governments.
In which we can nurture peace building and atrocity prevention because we have realized that sustainable peace cannot be achieved through military deterrence alone.
Governments have rebalanced spending, have dedicated a portion of foreign assistance explicitly to conflict prevention and peace building where women peace and security and youth peace and security agendas are well founded and implemented and locally led peace building is centered and resources because communities because community trust cannot be imported from outside.
A world in which we treat each other in caring ways, where we discuss not to convince others but to amplify our views in which conflict is hugged and not escalated into violence.
We DD, a world in which we defend human rights, fundamental freedoms and inclusion, where governments have turned their leave no one behind commitments into funded national action plans with disaggregate data and real accountability.
All of these in this dream world has been taken care of.
Although we have to keep finding ways to lead peace building to strengthen, we have to build the trust, confidence, and collaboration to keep working this path together.
Coming back to our physical and emotional connection, let's breathe in again, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.
How do you feel when you experience this world as a possibility materialize? I know it might seem atopic and unrealistic, but it is possible to build it.
We need to add wills, trust in the power of small actions of individual decisions powered by collective purposes.
We need to recognize that each of us here in this room has a role to play in order to make this a reality.
It doesn't matter if the pad is tough, if it's a huge power dynamic that we need to transform, if peace is not convenient for some.
We have to keep moving.
We have to keep dreaming and acting.
We need to stand for SDG 16.
I ask you here in the room to stand up with me.
If you trust in your own power and have the determination to make this imagined world a reality.
Please stand.
Let's stand for SDG 16.
At the end, the 2026 Civil Society Declaration is a call to action for member states, for donors, for the UN system, and for civil societies itself to build the coalition and alliances needed to defend these priorities together.
The time between now and 2030 is short, but the framework for action is here.
What we need is the political and daily will to use it.
Let's make it happen.
Let's give a round of applause to each of us who had decided to stand and commit to make it real today.
Yeah, yeah.
Thank you all.
Thank you, Natalia.
That was very powerful.
May this dream come true with everybody's commitment.
Now, we'd love to hear your perspectives.
By the way, you can read the whole of the 2026 Civil Society Declaration online.
It is available on the conference website under the Civil Society tab.
We are going to open the floor up now to get your views and questions hopefully for our panel.
Again, please do ask our panelists questions.
We will be counting down.
I will be counting down the time for you as well.
You have 3 minutes each.
We have received some requests in advance.
If you would like to speak, you can press the microphone button in front of you on the display and we will get to as many as we can.
Like I said, we do have a few requests already, so we'll begin with those.
First up, we have the permanent representative of the Philippines.
Sir, you have the floor.
Thank you.
Yours begins now.
Thank you very much, Madam Chair.
I first wish to thank the panelists for their important insights this morning.
The Philippines welcomes this opportunity to take stock of progress on the SDG 16 and to consider the 2026 Civil Society Declaration on SDG 16.
As we approach 2030, the international community faces a troubling reality.
Violent conflicts are increasing, trust in institutions are under strain.
Civic space is shrinking in many contexts and millions continue to face barriers to justice.
All these underscore that SDG 16 is not merely another goal in the 2030 agenda.
The Philippines, therefore welcomes the declarations emphasis on people centered justice, accountable institutions, and the protection of civic space.
These priorities are especially timely as we seek to restore trust at a moment of growing polarization and geopolitical uncertainty.
Drawing from our national experience, we have seen that the rule of law is a commitment, but also a practical tool for advancing development, strengthening institutions, and empowering communities.
Our cooperation with the International Development Law Organization has supported efforts to strengthen governance, promote accountability, expand access to justice and protect the rights of women and vulnerable sectors.
These initiatives demonstrate that investments and justice yield dividends across the sustainable development agenda.
The Philippines likewise witnessed the transformative power of inclusive institutions through the Bangsamoro peace process.
The establishment of the Bansamo autonomous region reflects the understanding that lasting peace requires more than the absence of conflict.
It requires inclusive governance, meaningful participation, responsive institutions, and confidence that grievances can be addressed through law and dialogue rather than violence.
Chair of the sixth committee of this 80th session of the General Assembly, I had the privilege of witnessing member states come together to advance the rule of law and international cooperation even amidst difficult global circumstances.
This experience reinforces that commitment to strong institutions, respect for international law, and inclusive dialogue remain among the most effective tools available to prevent disputes, manage differences, and build trust among nations.
So as we enter the final stretch towards 2030, we should recommit ourselves to placing justice, inclusion, and effective institutions at the center of our efforts.
We're ready to work with member states, civil society, and international partners to advance peace, justice, and inclusive societies and to ensure that no one is left behind.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, sir.
Now we have the permanent representative from Timor-Leste.
The floor is yours, sir.
Thank you, Madam Moderator.
Tim less is honored to participate in this conference, thanks to Italy, the UN DSA and Ia for convening this timely dialogue.
Tim less on trajectory, Moderator from conflict to democratic consolidation suggests that peace is neither accidental nor externally imposed.
It is built to deliberate political choices.
In addition to what had been mentioned by my compatriot, the Secretary-General of G seven plus, inclusive dialogue, national reconciliation, and the progressive construction of institutions that are accountable, transparent, and responsible to citizens are of high importance.
Our experience with community based reconciliation, constitution making and rule of law reforms demonstrate that sustainable peace requires both formal institutions and social legitimacy.
Crucially, it also shows that national ownership must remain at the center of all international support efforts.
Against this backdrop, we wish to highlight several points.
First, we believe that the international community must continue to prioritize long term investment in national justice systems.
These include expanding legal aid, strengthening judicial independence, and supporting people centered justice approaches that breach formal and customary mechanisms.
Second, development cooperation should shift from short term project cycles to sustained institutional partnership.
Predictable multi year financing aligned with national priorities is essential to build durable governance capacity.
Third, Madam Moderator, greater emphasis must be placed on inclusive peace building.
Youth, women, civil society, and local communities must be systematically integrated into decision making processes, not as beneficiaries, but as agents of change.
Fourth, in the context of declining official development assistance, finances strategies must evolve.
ODA should increasingly catalyze domestic resource mobilization, as my brother minister from Mozambique mentioned, Productive investment and trade capacity in least developed countries, thereby reducing structural dependency.
Fifth, multilateral for to strengthen coherence between peace development and climate agendas.
Fragility, inequality, and climate vulnerability are mutually reinforcing.
Responses must therefore be responses must therefore be integrated across sectors and institutions.
As we prepare for the high level political forum and advance the implementation of the pack future, we believe that these priorities must guide our collective action.
Partnership will only be effective if they reinforce sovereignty, empower national institutions, and build trust between states and their citizens.
So SDG 16 must not become the unfinished business of our generation.
It is the foundation of the 2030 agenda and the guarantor of human dignity.
We stand ready to work with all partners to translate this commitment into tangible progress for all peoples in all regions, leaving no one behind and better together.
Thank you.
Okay.
Thank you very much.
Now let's hear from the permanent representative from Albania.
You have the floor.
Ma'am.
Thank you, Madam Moderator, for giving me the floor.
Let me start by thanking the organizers, first of all, permanent mission of Italy, Una and Edlow for convening these important discussions and also to express our gratitude to the panelists for their insightful contribution in this discussion.
As we enter the final years of 2030 agenda, SDG 16 remains fundamental to achieving sustainable development.
Peace, justice, and strong institutions are not only goals in themselves, they are essentially enablers of progress across the entire agenda.
Albania's experience demonstrates both the opportunity and challenges that we have facing by advancing SDG 16.
Through a comprehensive justice reform, Albania has established a vetting process for judges and prosecutors, strengthened judicial governance institutions, and created specialized mechanisms to combat corruption and organized crime.
These reforms have improved the independence, transparency, and accountability of our justice system.
At the same time, they have taught us a key lesson.
Sustainable reform requires not only strong legislation, but also effective implementation, institutional resilience, and public trust.
Our experience also confirms the close relationship between SDG 16 and the broader 2030 agenda.
Strong institutions support economy growth, protect human rights, improve public services, and create the condition for inclusive and sustainable development.
In this regard, we welcome the 2026 Civil Society Declaration on SDG 16 plus and recognize the essential role of civil society, youth, and independent stakeholders in promoting accountability and ensuring that commitments translate into tangible result.
Here, I would like to take the opportunity to ask the representative of civil society How can we as member states create a wider space for them to be involved in the discussions at the UN? What kind of model they can present to us that is positive or what other innovative instruments we can use to create the space for civil society, for youth, and all stakeholders to have a meaningful impact in our discussions? Let me conclude by reaffirming Albania's commitment to advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies and working with all partners to accelerate our progress on SDG 16.
I thank you.
Thank you very much indeed.
Our youth speakers, would you like to take that question? How can member states create a more inclusive space for civil society for youth speakers? Natalia, any thoughts? Yes, I was actually thinking that you are all aware of the importance of SDG 16 and how it's central to the Agenda 2030.
I was asking myself, why is military expenses increasing and peace building financing decreasing if we are aware of the importance of this SDG.
And I look at you with empathy.
I think that as representatives of member states and UN agencies and all these huge bureaucratic, big institutions, I There is a lot of things you have to juggle with.
So when I have tried to approach my own country's government, I have found the barrier of them believing that we just want funding or money or making demands.
But I think that if members states could recognize that civil society and CSOs are doing a great huge invaluable work in the fields with our nails with really a really high efficiency in the use of funding and resources and with deep impact, we want to approach to you not to ask for more funding, though it's appreciated, but to become a strategic partners and allies because you are doing the best you can with what you have and we are doing the best we can with what we have.
But maybe what we need is to be seated in the same table as equals and just make decisions and plans and public policies and decide over funding together just to accelerate and deepen the impact of both of our actions and this common dream.
I think it's a big risk or a big challenge because it has to make tangle or in crisis, the structures and the models and the processes that you have historically have had to sit with civil society.
But it's the only way sitting with us together, listening us knowing which solutions we are implementing because they work, because we are creating them from the ground and just working together.
I think it's not hard, it's just connecting hard to hear with people from the places we represent and the institutions we act upon.
Thank you.
Yes.
Thank you for this question.
I think it's really important.
We see, I think throughout the discussions and also throughout our consultation, young people are doing the amazing job on the ground.
They are taking risk, their daily struggling, doing volunteer work.
They're seeing something that those ideas and the innovation that they have on the ground will make change.
But their reliance For example, in the context of Afghanistan, UN Ya is the only source in Afghanistan who continue operating on the ground and through different organization, they have built trust and the people of Afghanistan are the young people are reliant on what the UN is doing to continue their work in Afghanistan.
And we see that there is a big gap between what's in the global commitments and legislations and strategies.
But when it comes to realities on the ground, people are struggling with their day to day basic human rights.
For them, SDG 16 global frameworks, it doesn't make any changes because they're struggling to find those basic necessities on the ground.
I would say that UN and other international organizations can a critical role, not just bringing you to speak up on the conversation, but also include them in decision, include them in the consultation process, taking their ideas and providing solutions to their own ideas that they are coming up.
I would say that we shouldn't brought up more declaration, we shouldn't brought more a frameworks, we have to focus on to fill the gaps that we have in the SDGs implementation because we see a lot of gap with how we have made the progress with some SDGs, but some SDGs are going reverse and we see a lot of step backs.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Amal and Natalia for your vital perspectives.
Now, let's hear from the representative from Germany.
I believe you are here in the room with us.
You have the floor.
Thank you, Madam Moderator, and thank you to Italy and to U and Esa for the opportunity to discuss today.
As we take stock of progress on SDG 16, the picture before us is deeply concerning.
The world has become less peaceful, conflict levels have risen dramatically, and trust in institutions is under pressure.
In too many countries, corruption is increasing, civic space is shrinking, and the rule of law is weakening.
These trends threaten not only SDG 16 itself, but the entire 2030 agenda.
As we have heard today already, many of us share this analysis.
At the same time, our experience also shows what works.
Strong institutions, access to justice, transparency and meaningful participation are not luxuries, they are prerequisites for sustainable development.
Where citizens can participate, where civil society is protected, and where institutions are accountable, progress becomes possible.
Germany therefore sees SDG 16 not as one goal among many, but as a key enabler for the entire Agenda 2030, peace, justice and strong institutions firmly grounded in human rights and gender equality provide the bedrock on which all other sustainable development goals rest.
Without them, states cannot effectively deliver on their commitments and sustainable development will remain out of reach.
Partnerships are essential.
Through initiatives such as the Justice Action Coalition and the Alliance for Integrity, we are working together with governments, civil society, the private sector, and academia to strengthen the rule of law and promote integrity.
In all these endeavors, civil society is indispensable to achieve SDG 16.
It translates commitments into actions, protects democratic institutions, and gives voice to those left behind.
So thank you for your important work and for holding us accountable.
Thank you.
Looking ahead.
Looking ahead, we must invest in civic space, combat corruption, and ensure meaningful participation.
Advancing SDG 16 is not only a goal in itself, it is indispensable for achieving sustainable development for us all.
I thank you.
Thank you very much for giving us Germany's perspective there.
Now Helda from G seven plus, I understand you have to leave us.
Thank you for your time with us today.
Thank you.
And now we have the representative from Ukraine.
I'm not sure where you are in the room.
Please, you have the floor.
Thank you so much.
Madam moderator.
Ukraine welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this discussion and thanks again, Italy, Un I love for convening this important annual conference, as well as all briefers for their insightful remarks.
While entering the final four years of 24 30 agenda, it's important to take stock of the lessons learned from SDG 16 implementation.
One lesson has become increasingly clear, peace, justice, human rights, and strong institutions serve as essential enablers of progress across the entire sustainable development goal framework.
Ukraine attaches particular importance to SEG 16 and its effective implementation.
While defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the principles of the UN charter amid Russia's ongoing war of aggression, Ukraine continuous efforts to strengthen democratic governance, uphold the rule of law, advance anti corruption reforms, expand digital public services, and promote transparent and accountable institutions.
Our experience also highlights the importance of inclusive participation.
Civil society organizations, local communities, youth, and volunteers make a vital contribution to strengthening public trust, supporting vulnerable populations, and fostering social cohesion.
Their engagement enhances the effectiveness, accountability, and responsiveness of institutions and remains an important component of sustainable development.
We highly value the contribution of civil society to advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies and to supporting the implementation of the 2030 agenda.
The experience of recent years demonstrates a strong correlation between progress on SDG 16 and progress across the broader development agenda.
Again, strong institutions, accountability, respect for human rights, and equal access to justice create the conditions necessary for sustainable social, economic, and environmental development.
Finally, Ukraine remains committed to working with all partners to accelerate progress on SDG 16 and to translate our shared commitments into concrete actions and measurable results.
I thank you very much.
Thank you for giving us Ukraine's thoughts and perspective there.
Now let's hear from miss Sarah Lister.
I believe you're here in the room with us.
Sarah Lister is Global Director for governance, rule of law and peace building at UNDP.
You have the floor.
Thank you very much.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, let me start by acknowledging the 2026 Civil Society Declaration on SDG 16 plus and its important messages on participation, accountability, inclusion, and civic space.
The conversation today has reaffirmed that as UNDP's administrator mentioned earlier, although we often speak about SDG 16 as one goal among 17, In reality, it is one of the foundations on which progress across the entire 2030 agenda depends.
Speakers today have spoken to how they are prioritizing its implementation in their own countries.
A key lesson emerging across multiple contexts is also the critical role of data.
As a custodian of SDG 16 indicators, UNDP works with partners to strengthen national capacities to generate and use governance data.
Later this year, UNDP, together with OHCHR, UNODC, and UNICEF, and all SDG 16 custodian agencies will launch the fourth Global Progress Report on SDG 16 to advance these vital conversations.
For example, UNDP has worked with the Garner Statistical Service to ensure that data reflects the experiences of all people, including through citizen generated data capturing perceptions of public services, including among persons with disabilities.
Importantly, this data is increasingly informing decision making, helping governments identify barriers, target reforms, and improve services.
But data can only drive better outcomes if countries have the capacity to produce, analyze, and use it.
Investment in national statistical systems, administrative data systems, and broader country data ecosystems is a development imperative.
UNDP remains committed to supporting this in order to see progress not just on measurement, but on achievement of the goal itself.
I would urge you all to join us in that endeavor.
Thank you very much.
Thank you, miss Lister and thank you for that attention on data.
We know that accurate data is so vital for informed decisions.
We have the representative up next from Uesco.
Are you here in the room with us? Please, you have the floor.
Thank you.
I'm Priya Joshi.
I'm with the Global Education Monitoring Report at UNSCO.
At the EM Report, we've been using data, evidence, and policy analysis to highlight the importance, of course, of education as an enabler to all of the SDGs, very much in the lines of how we've been speaking about governance and SDG 16 as an enabler.
In our interlinkages work, we have highlighted the importance of education and justice to work together to build fairer societies, based on the conviction that we can learn to build just societies, in schools, universities, training institutions, formal, and non formal settings.
Um, I was wondering if any of the member state representatives or civil society advocates could speak to how they see the role of education systems in building both the demand for effective institutions, and, um, you know, the empowerment to, uh, to advocate for your rights as well as the supply side of effective institutions.
This is essentially a question on the interlinkages between SDG four and SDG 16 from your perspective.
Thank you.
Thank you very much for your thoughts and that question.
Any of our speakers, would you like to take that question? How do you see the link between SDG four and SDG 16, the importance of education systems in advancing this goal and all the goals really? Anybody want to take that? Go ahead, Natalia, after that.
Thank you.
Well, in Latin, we work in peace education, and I think that's the most clear interlinkage from my point of view.
Educational systems are there to shape us, to shape the way we behave, we act, we think, and if we can create an educational system that strengthens critical thinking, social emotional skills, skills for the life, to live to get into conflicts without escalating into violence, to transform our own realities, to be more aware of our own power to build the world we all dream of, I think we will make a goal.
It would be good.
In Latvia we have a peace education program that it's one year program that we implement not only with students in the schools, but also with caregivers, families, and with teachers.
It's a program that's based in three moments, myself, me with others, and us in the territories.
It's built in a way that we can recognize our own story And understand why we believe what we believe and put it in crisis to make it shake and see if it actually makes this world a better place and also help us to connect with others in a more meaningful and caring way and to act together to transform the the challenges that we face at a community level.
I think that if every, every school in the world will have the chance to leave some program like that, we will probably have generations that take more caring decisions for themselves, the world, and the generations to come.
Thanks, Natalia.
Vice Minister Nahara is next and then we'll come to you, cabinet secretary.
We in Mexico think that one of the major partners to fulfill SDG 16 is training and education.
For a long time, education was considered as geared towards the market and acquiring technical skills which are important, but now With this new approach, New Mexican school, we're incorporating topics of ethics, civic studies, starting from the early childhood.
And we in the anti corruption section of the government are promoting educational policies, including the program called Nestting Grounds for Integrity.
We We are really promoting the principle of shared responsibility and building societies where integrity is important and we're trying to do it using playful techniques.
We're doing it starting from early childhood because we think that if we do it from early childhood, then citizens will incorporate them as they grow.
The other topic is training of public servants in Mexico.
We have about 1.5 million of civil servants in the federal governments and each individual has an obligation of 40 hours of training.
What we're trying to do is not merely an administrative training, but really to make sure that this training is relevant and uh focus not only in technical capacities, but also we're incorporating a mandatory course on ethics and integrity in public service.
To date, approximately 1 million civil servants have taken this course.
To sum up, I believe that yes, training and education are essential to have institutions that are more capable, more professional, but also citizens that are more informed and believe integrity.
Advice, Mr.
Naha, Cabinet Screbu Thank you.
The education is one of the very key pillars in every society and the government of Kenya is investing the highest budget allocation from all other ministries to ensure the new curriculum, which is champion that we are calling competence based curriculum is changing the way skills are developed from very young ages all the way to higher institutions of learning.
Of course, we boast as one of the countries which has the best human resource or one of the best human capital across the world.
This will rank very well with SDG 16.
But the inequalities within our societies, within Kenyan society, which the lady there talked about is something which need proper leadership to bridge.
I think If each and every nation in the world can manage to get the most appropriate proper leadership at the top, some of these issues we are discussing here can be taken care of depending on the state at which the nation is.
Of course, we have many differences from one nation to the other, but every nation is making progress towards the right direction, are those nations which are affected by war, by conflict, by theory of governance, yes.
But I think overall, proper education and we can run from each and every nation will demonstrate lead to achievement or attaining of some of these SDGs we are talking about.
But investing in education is key.
Kenyan government and the administration of Kenyan government is taking education very seriously.
We have allocated the highest budget ever in the history of the nation, which is 784 billion Kenya sharing.
I don't know how much that is indoors as someone can translate for me.
But all towards having success in competence based education for the development and the growth, both social development, economic development for our nation and other repies.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary Ruku.
You said 794 billion Kenyan shillings.
It's over $6 billion according to this calculation.
Ajmal, you wanted to answer that.
What's the link between education and SDG 16 and really all the goals? Thank you for this question.
I think this is really close to my heart because in the current context of Afghanistan, it's been nearly five years after the Taliban rule that women and girls are banned from going to school and universities.
Just imagine being a girl in that restrictive environment like Afghanistan, facing conflict, challenges from the society, having your daughter, having a child and Like taking that very basic right of you to going to school, imagine how you would feel being in that society.
This is not like we are letting such groups and people to take this opportunity from those vulnerable, most affected communities.
So as an international community, as a civil society organization, as those who we believe that education is a fundamental human rights and education, the linkages between when we are talking about the GG 16, we are talking about the quality education, the education that shouldn't be in a way with the curriculum, what has been taught.
So it should be matter for us that if a group like Taliban and Afghanistan are banning education for women and girls for five years, different group with the same ideology would raise up in different country and context and they would continue the same restrictive and limiting education.
It's important that when we are talking about the SDGs, we should also thinking of the linkages.
Because if you are talking about the SDGs in context of Afghanistan or many other contexts where they're an active conflict, war, poverty.
We should also thinking of like How many majority of the population in rural urban areas of that country has access to education.
They have access attending the school.
They have a ability to go with all the restrictions that they have.
I can focus more on this important part of education, which we should rethink about it and we should see how we can bring up more focus on working on this area because without this, we cannot sustain the SDG 16 or other goals also.
Thank you, Amal.
Now we have a request from Mr.
Peter Van Slaus, who is coordinator for CSPPS, the Civil Society platform for peace Building and State Building.
Sir, you have the floor.
Thank you, Madam Moderator, and thank you to all the speakers.
As was said in the beginning of this conference, SD 16 is at the heart of the 2030 agenda, but the goal is under severe strain with conflicts being at record breaking levels and multiple and overlapping armed conflicts, interstate tensions and civic space and global gender backlash in all regions of the world.
This is a very gloomy picture.
We are witnessing regression of the progress achieved on the sustainable development goals.
But as mentioned by the PGA earlier today, progress is possible.
And as you have heard of my civil society colleagues, we are today launching the 2026 Civil Society Declaration on SD 16 plus, where we are providing clear recommendations for that tangible progress to be made in terms of the need for rebuilding trust in times of crisis.
The recommendations that were spoken about are a segue for collective commitment to work on progress of the agenda.
Rebuilding trust was something that many speakers have spoken about and is also quite central in the recommendation.
How can we ensure accelerated action on the delivery of the agenda and how can we build and rebuild that trust? I would be interested to hear from the panelists how they reflect on the thematic priorities as laid down in the declaration and how do they see efforts supported to rebuild that trust? Declaration that we are launching today is already endorsed by over 400 civil society organizations around the globe.
I would like to thank all the speakers that have priorly expressed their support for the declaration.
This is much appreciated.
We thank you all for standing with us and thank you for this intervention.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Van Schlos.
Would anybody like to take that question? How can we rebuild trust? We know that trust in public institutions is eroding and it is vital to rebuild that trust.
How do we do that to translate and also how do we translate words into more action? Anybody brave enough to take on that question? Cabinet Secretary Ruku? Thank you very much.
I will share the Kenyan experience as far as building trust with public institutions.
Kenyan judiciary has digitized all the services.
At the moment, whether you are in a very remote corner of the nation, you can be able to access and to follow the or the justice administration across the Republic of Kenya regardless of where you are.
As long as you are able to access Internet connection and all the judgment of cases are made available digitally in an open source that you can be able to download any judgment and you can be able to criticize where necessary, and that has really promoted the trust as far as judicial system in Kenya is concerned.
Secondly, services which are offered by government.
23,000 services at the moment are online through a platform we call E Citizen.
And where those who are not able to access online platform through each citizen, the Oduma centers across the Republic of Kenya, 59 of them.
Of course, we need to have more than that.
We need to have about 290 Oduma centers so that all those who cannot be able to access Internet services are able to visit those Oduma centers, and they will find government officials there who will give them the services which they need.
Whether it's driving license, whether it is Kenya revenue certification, whether it is business registration, whether it's society's registration, whether it's reporting, what you call ombudsman public complaints.
All these are available in this center.
These help in promoting trust within public institution.
The digitization of police stations across the Republic of Kenya.
Also that help in promoting the protection of help in promoting the trust that Kenyan police services can be able to promote protection of properties and life, though we have a wrong way to go, but we are in the right direction.
Requires huge amount of funding, it requires commitment and it requires proper top leadership.
We're happy that we have a president who is committed to ensuring this is going to be achieved within our lifetime.
Regardless of who will come after him, will continue with the same because of the institutionalizing some of these things within the guiding laws which have been registrated by our Prament.
I thank you.
Thank you, Cabinet S Ruku for sharing those measures on rebuilding trust and transparency.
Vice Minister Naja, you wanted to answer that question too? I think in Mexico share experience because although there is a global tendency of eroding trust in traditional institutions or even social capital, in terms of the trust of the Mexicans to the central government, it is interesting that it's one of the top three countries of the OECD just below Luxeburg and Switzerland in terms of this trust.
It's an interesting piece of information because when we are asked, why is this? I think it has to do with the way of governing that is close to people.
So this is an assumption, but I think it's important to make a clear distinction between avoiding capture by private interests of the public sector and the interests of the majority.
This government is based in terms of separation of economic and political power and something that helps contribute to restoring trust of the citizens and their government is when they see that the budget is geared towards the well being of the majority.
In Mexico over the past six years, over 13 million Mexicans have overcome poverty.
And so in spite of the pandemic, another issue is combating disinformation.
We believe that one of the ways in which restoring trust of citizens have functioned is having direct mechanisms of communication without intermediaries and to counter evidence or information in the face of these waves of disinformation.
Thank you, Vice Minister Nahira.
Now, Minister Pisa, your perspective.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I'll speak with my limited English speaking, but I hope to reach the point.
In Mozambique, struggling with this, trust from the citizens, and we are working on building transparent processes so that people can trust more the public institutions.
We are strengthening the protection of the people's rights so that the rule of law must work equally for all over the people and they are not double standard people or way of treating people.
They are all treated equally, and this is a huge struggle for us.
We're also trying to expand the citizen participation in all public um management process so that the people can know what's really happening and what decisions are being made by the government for the people and they participate in the governance.
We call that opening governing so that people can know what's built, what's been done for the people.
We also are trying to a We are going to this path of digitalizing processes so that people can know when they can have their public services, when they can ask what they have to pay, what contribution they have to do, and this is being transparent on what we are doing.
I think that these are the main ideas that I could share to answer your question.
Thank you.
Thank you for sharing with us what Mozambique is working on.
We've been talking about how to translate words into action.
We have a little bit more time here.
I have a question for our civil society speakers.
How do you as civil society, propose to translate these lessons? Learn to translate what is outlined in the Civil Society Declaration into concrete commitments and accountability? What would you like to see happen with regards to translating words into action? You want to go first, Natalia, any thoughts on this? Okay.
Yes.
Yesterday, we had the civil society forum, and we talked a lot about the declaration and we recognize that accountability is not just a pillar, but it's something transversal.
We need accountability in justice, we need accountability in financing, we need accountability in prevention, in attention, like a In all senses.
In my own personal experience and now that I don't know if you are all aware, but Colombia launched the National action plan on YPS agenda in May, so it's really a pivotal sttone for us.
We were invited in Latin and as leaders of the Colombian Coalition on YPS agenda to give our inputs and draft the Colombia's National Action Plan for YPS with the government and the UN agencies and We were really hopeful about this because we were finally feeling included in a meaningful way.
We were actually drafting the document with them.
So we trusted a lot deeply and we were happy and we brought more than 70 youth led organizations to the coalition to put their inputs and so that we could translate it also in the National action plan.
We did our parallel consultations while the government and the UN agencies were doing their own consultations and What's sad in the story is that when the document was drafted and it was supposed to be launched in December last year, it didn't happen and they launched it just in May.
In those five months of this year, we weren't included in anything.
Actually, we were invited to a meeting where they told us that we had reached our limit in our participation and that that was it.
Of course, we in a very strategic way have been trying to push for our participation.
We push to drift to read the final version of the National action plan.
It wasn't working, so we had to use social media to show that this was happening, and then we were invited again to participate in the launching event and it led us to be the hosts of the launching event in May.
So I think from that experience of these couple of years, I've learned that to build trust, we need to stop feeling tokenized, stop being included just when it's convenient.
And be meaningfully engaged in all the process and the implementation.
Now we have no clue of what's going to actually happen with the National action plan.
We are on election so we don't know if the next government is going to continue with this path.
I really want to encourage everyone in this room to help us push and pressure Colombia's government for it to be implemented.
But the the key learning for building trust, it's maintaining the trust.
Because if you have the window open for a trust of a small group of people, and then you break your commitment, suddenly, Rebuilding the trust again, that is pace again, it's going to be twice or tries harder and we are just youth.
There are a lot of different populations wanting to participate and to be included to position their needs and their agendas and their solutions.
Just talk to people, talk to people, listen, people, know their solutions, act upon what you learn from them, and sustain their commitments.
Thanks, Natalia, Ajm? What do you think? If we look back to different failures regarding governance, regarding any institutions, I think one thing that would come up that the issue that we see that the accountability, transparency, and there were no inclusivity and we see that throughout different processes.
I think for us with everything that's happening geopolitically, I think we should also Not ignore the importance of digital spaces.
Young people with all the restriction, with all the limitation, they have access to digital platforms.
I think we should find different ways of partnering, cooperation, collaboration with other organization, with local entities and and also find ways to co create some of our initiatives, some of our strategies that we are working.
I think it's more than ever important that we should rebuild the trust between young people and international organizations because we see with restrictions and limitation on the ground, many young people has been disconnected from international platforms, as it was also when we started this declaration.
We as a civil society organization with all the challenges in Afghanistan, we consulted with young people.
We gather their voices, we have included them in sharing their solutions, their recommendation.
Even in the restrictive environment in the challenging context, we can find ways on including them, including their voices, creating platforms.
As an example, yesterday, we hosted an event together with German mission in New York, we brought the artwork of young woman from Afghanistan who have hard for them to raise their voices.
We find alternative ways of sharing their stories through art and giving them platforms that the world and the international community understand what struggles and challenges they are facing.
We should find different ways, different strategies to rebuild the trust and also to find ways to restore a cooperation among different institutions from bottom to up level.
Thank you.
Thanks very much, Ajmal and for sharing that tangible example, creativity to increase inclusion.
Thank you all for your valuable perspectives, your feedback, your questions, and for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
Let's get closing thoughts now from all of you.
What are your key takeaways from today's conversation? Cabinet Secretary Ruku, let's start with you, please.
Thank you very much.
I think SDG 16 stupid very important things which we should strive to achieve as nations as government and they cannot stand on their own, the other aspects like we just discussed about education, which is a key enbra to achieving all these SDGs.
The commitment of each and every government, especially at the top of its leadership is extremely important.
That's why I'm saying Kenya is still committed to continue improving and achieving some of the goal set, and it is doing that through what we are calling a bottom up economic transformation agenda.
This encompasses the continuous improvement in civil liberties, in building peace, in ensuring education goes properly mainstreamed within the government national planning, or the judicial system, ensuring that we have a very strong judicial system, the parliament or parliamentary system where public participation is key in every legislative agenda of the nation and where public participation is not included, then whatever is achieved through that legislative agenda is void, respecting the rule of law as a government.
Where many decisions made by executive have been thrown out by the judicial system and the government abides by the decisions made by our high court or the judiciary.
All these are key, and I think we should continue in that direction.
We have four more years to go.
As far as Vision 20 that is concerned, I think it will be important for the nation to congregate at the end of the four years so that we can continue pushing for some of these goals because we have to build a better society and we can only build a better society if we work together among the communities of nation and Kenya will continue to be very integral within the community of nations in achieving a better society for humankind.
I thank you.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary Ruku Minister and Pisa, what are your key takeaways from today? Thank you very much.
I see that all of us we are talking the same language.
This is the first point I see, and what I find here is that we are building sets and driving policies, although with some challenges and some difficulties somewhere, but some difference, but we are doing all the same because we agree on the SDG 16, what we want to reach and that it drives the countries in the world.
We are doing our best to go there.
I think that the SDG 16 is the most powerful within our goals.
I think it's my point of view, just because it leads to the inclusion, it leads to the justice, it leads to the welfare of the people, inclusion and things like that.
I think that it's a continuous challenge to make it happen because the needs of the peoples, they change every time and they increase while the people also increase the number of people is bigger within the countries.
For the last, the Mozambique is committed to the welfare of the Mozambicans and of the peoples of Laddesian.
These are the points I would like to highlight at this last intervention.
Thank you.
Thank you, Minister and Pisa and now Vice Minister Nahira.
Well, I would be happy going away if we were able to point to a consensus that SDG 16 is the major driver for the rest of the 2030 agenda.
It's like the top gear so that we can actually achieve our aims.
And I think we also need to invest in state capacities for our governments because we can indicate excellent public policies when it comes to health, education, equality, and climate action, but unless we have effective institutions that can implement matters, that can act decisively and really solve the problems facing us, it's going to be very hard for us to make any progress on Agenda 2030.
The question here is not that we need better aims.
We've identified those ones that will help mankind.
The question is, are we capable of strengthening those institutions which can turn them into reality? Yes, Mr.
Nahara.
And now, Ajm Your thoughts, key takeaways from today.
We have heard from lots of speakers today and yesterday about different issues, the challenges, the strands, the opportunities.
There's a lot that we can learn from each other.
There's a lot that we can share with each other, there is a lot that we have to come up and set and create these spaces a lot because this issue is something that's more personally matter to us in the communities that we work and the experiences that we have.
For me personally, this is not a statistic, this is not something that I see in day to day life of the people.
This is a lived reality.
I grew up in Afghanistan and I witnessed the firsthand of how conflict, war, poverty, and shrinking civic spaces taking and affecting people's lives.
I have fled the country and I have become refugee when I was a child and later on in 2021.
For I continued, I did not stop there.
I continued my work because I knew that there is something that I can work with.
I could see the gaps between the global commitment, between the reality on the ground.
We should not come up with the agendas that we feel it's work in every context.
We have to think of coming up with different language, different strategies, more based on the need of local communities and local people.
Also, we should find venues to more remind us that SDG 16 is not an abstract agenda.
It's about the people who live with dignity, hope, future, and justice into their day to day life.
Thank you.
Thank you, Ajm, Natalia.
Thank you.
I'll talk in Spanish.
If you want to put the translator, a national action plan.
And when we work with young people, this is called the pan.
This also means breath.
There's no peace.
It also means bread.
There's no peace without bread.
We've got four years to push forward the 2030 agenda.
Then other forms will emerge the same causes, they'll have different names, but we have to tune in to the quality of hope of what we can do together.
When private interests stop curbing actions for the greatest good, actions which are consistent with the values that each of us has in our principles, in this utopia for the world that we were imagining a little while ago.
Let's invest in the long term in transformation, culture, structural transformation so that violence ceases to be the norm and so that we can really achieve peace building.
Now, let's look at the aims that we've reached to date and may they inspire us to continue along the path.
And I will ask a question in English so that you can understand.
I'm going to do today to stand for SDG 16.
And I would be delighted to hear your responses.
Thank you.
Thank you, Natalia.
Thank you all you've given us.
Cabin S, you want to add something very quickly? Thank you so much.
I wanted to add something very quickly that the climate change and SDG 16 also to some extent joined together the HIP.
If we don't take care of or address climate change as nations and community of nations, then we will not be able to achieve some of these goals in the most comprehensive manner.
For that, it calls for a new international financing architecture.
Away from the one we know at the moment because climate change affects all nations.
I have seen it in my village where I was brought up, rs which were there, they are no longer there and it is this for those who are saying, because I have seen leader saying it's a hoax.
I believe it's not a hoax.
I think Kenya is working and committed to addressing climate change so that because it affects all these We have seen conflict of water, people fighting, communities fighting because of water, dispute dispute emanating because of water, killing each other and it's as a result of climate change.
I think this is something which we need to take seriously as community of nations and address it.
Kenya is committed in championing and that's why we held Africa Climate Summit, I think two years ago, which was in Europe.
I thank you.
Thank you, Cabinet Secretary.
Thank you all.
Again, you've given us much to think about.
Clearly, there's a lot that can and must be done going forward.
As we close, there are several messages that stand out clearly.
As we know, progress on SDG 16 is really uneven, but it remains crucial and it is achievable, peaceful, just, and inclusive societies are the foundation upon which All sustainable development rests.
Second, the gaps we see are not only institutional, they are also deeply human barriers to justice, shrinking civic space, exclusion affect the most vulnerable people.
Adré these challenges, these barriers requires political will, sustained investment and commitment to human rights.
And last and certainly not least, civil society, we know plays an indispensable role.
The 2026 Civil Society Declaration on SDG 16 plus is a call to action grounded in the experience, the voices of those who work closest with communities on the ground, often in the most challenging environments.
It's a reminder for all of us that progress is strongest when it is co created together in partnership.
Governments, civil society, international organizations, and communities working together as equal partners.
All of government, all of society engagement is a way forward.
We must keep striving ahead together.
Many thanks to you all once again for your time with us for the work that you're doing.
Keep up the good fight, Thank you all for being here with us today for your participation, your commitment.
We are going to break for lunch now.
The conference will resume again at 3:00 P.M.
Sharp.
We'll have a second panel then on peace, justice, and effective institutions, the transformative impact of SDG 16, followed by a third panel on partnerships and collective action to build peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.
We'll have more informed speakers sharing different perspectives from around the globe.
We hope you'll return refreshed and ready for more insights.
Thank you all.
M&E
Meetings & Events
(Part 1) SDG 16 Conference 2026
The SDG 16 Conference 2026 on "Driving transformation and coordinated action for sustainable development " held on Wednesday, 17 June 2026 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Description
High-Level Opening
First panel session: Stocktaking progress on SDG 16 and presentation of the 2026 civil society declaration on SDG 16+
The SDG 16 Conference provides a global platform for all SDG 16 stakeholders - including governments, the UN system, intergovernmental organizations, academia and civil society - to address the transformative contribution SDG 16 can make in accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Its outcomes inform reviews of progress at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) as well as other intergovernmental processes.
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