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SDG #16 - PEACE, JUSTICE & STRONG INSTITUTIONS
Overview
In order to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, international homicide, violence against children, human trafficking and sexual violence needs to be addressed. Committing to reducing rates of violence and access to justice for all is essential for building effective, accountable institutions.
Globally, homicide and trafficking rates have fallen significantly over the past decade, however rates are still extremely high in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. In many countries, children’s rights violations through aggression and sexual violence continue, especially as a lack of accountability and reliable data aggravate the problem.
To solve these challenges and build a more peaceful, inclusive societies, we need efficient and transparent regulations, and proper support for governments to enact change. Independent national human rights institutions around the world are needed to protect those who continue to be swept under the radar and go unnoticed.
Homicide Rates & Violence Against Children
In 2015, between 5.2 persons and 6.7 persons per 100,000 persons worldwide were victims of intentional homicide. While the homicide rate has declined over the past decade, people in some countries located in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and Asia face increased risk of intentional murder.
Various forms of violence against children persist, including discipline that relies on physical punishment and psychological aggression. In 76 countries (most are developing countries) with available data from 2005 to 2016, about 8 in 10 children from 1 to 14 years of age were subjected to some form of psychological aggression and/or physical punishment on a regular basis.
Human Trafficking & Sexual Violence
Countries have made solid progress in terms of detecting victims of trafficking in persons, as reflected by the increasing number of detected victims over the last decade. Globally, more women and girls than men and boys were identified as victims of trafficking in 2014. However, the share of women and girls has slowly retreated, from 84 per cent in 2004 to 71 per cent in 2014. While the share of victims trafficked for sexual exploitation has declined, the proportion of those trafficked for forced labour has increased. About 28 per cent of all trafficking victims detected in 2014 were children, with girls outnumbering boys (20 per cent and 8 per cent, respectively, of total victims).
Sexual violence is perhaps the most disturbing of children’s rights violations. Under-reporting and a lack of comparable data limit understanding of the full extent of the problem. In 35 low- and middle-income countries with data, the proportions of women between 18 and 29 years of age who experienced sexual violence for the first time before 18 years of age ranged from 0 per cent to 16 per cent.
Rate of Pre-Trial Detention & Corruption
Rates of pre-trial detention suggest that progress with respect to the rule of law and access to justice has been slow. Globally, the proportion of people held in detention without being sentenced for a crime has remained almost unchanged — from 32 per cent of total prisoners in 2003-2005 to 31 per cent in 2013-2015 — which indicates that substantive progress has not been achieved in the ability of judicial systems to process and try the accused in a fair and transparent manner.
Opaque, burdensome and inefficient regulations and procedures nurture opportunities for corrupt officials to extract bribes or unofficial payments. In 2015, over 18 per cent of firms worldwide reported receiving at least one bribery payment request. The share of firms in low- and lower-middle-income countries totalled 25 per cent, compared to 4 per cent in high-income countries.
SDG MEDIA ZONE
What Makes A Society Peaceful?
Patrick Keuleers, UNDP’s Chief of Profession in Governance and Peacebuilding, talks about what makes a society peaceful, just and inclusive, and how you can make a difference as a citizen to achieve this goal.
Using Play To Combat Violence
Supported by UNICEF’s Learning for Peace programme, this Theatre for Development group in Sierra Leone created a play that challenges the culture of violence and corporal punishment and encourages peacebuilding.
The Internet & Civic Capacity Building
Information and communication technologies accelerate progress towards each SDG. Thanks to the Internet, an increasing number of people have access to essential services that increase their capacity to participate in their civic duties.
BUSINESS RESOURCES FOR SDG #16
In order to maximize business potential, peaceful environments with strong institutions are needed. The private sector thrives where operating costs are predictable and working environments are safe and stable. A lack of responsible business practices and associated oversight can result in additional risk and lead to societal tensions and instability. A corrupt system leads to unpredictable markets, a lack of competition and prevents firms from complying with human rights and other sustainable business practices.
A society with strong institutions and responsible businesses contributes to active public policy engagement, fruitful social investment and a commitment to lasting peace, development, prosperity and business success. The private sector should aim to work with government and civil society to support the strengthening of the rule of law to eliminate corruption and the uncertainty that goes with it. This way, businesses can work with, inside of and for strong and peaceful institutions that benefit all who live within them.
GRI, UNGC Release 'Practical Guide' for Companies to Report Their Impact on the SDGs
KPMG: How to Report on the SDGs & Global Goals
Project Breakthrough: Growing The Businesses of Tomorrow
AWARD QUESTIONS FOR SDG #16
1) Media Package
- Program Photographs & Illustrations (Max. 10 Images)
- Detailed Project Description (Max. 500 Words)
- Optional: URL/Link to Supporting Video
2) Financial & Strategic
In order to determine financial performance & potential for scalability, please answer the following questions:
- Please describe how the SDG business initiative is linked to your company’s core competency/competencies.
- Please provide an overview of the business case associated with your SDG business initiative.
- Please provide evidence of planned program expansion over the coming quarters and/or fiscal years.
3) Magnetism & Inspiration
How has your business initiative been a source of magnetism and inspiration? Please provide examples of your company’s influence on each of the following:
- Industry Impact
- Corporate Culture
- Key Stakeholder Groups
4) SDG Impact Metrics
Please describe how has your company has:
- Reduced abuse, exploitation, trafficking and/or violence against children (i.e.-via the deployment of innovative technology, improved enforcement, audits, etc). Please provide details regarding: % increase or decrease in reported local/national rates for any of the challenges listed above.
- Improved access to rule-of-law/justice institutions (i.e. -via the deployment of innovative technology, etc.) (please provide details regarding: % increase/decrease in reported crimes and associated % increase/decrease in lawful arrests).
- Reduced the incidence of corruption and/or bribery of public officials (i.e. -via innovative technology, transparency, etc.) Please provide details regarding: % increase/decrease in reported bribes, and change to local/national Bribe Payers Index.
- Increased public engagement in civic institutions (i.e. –national and/or local legislatures) via the deployment of innovative technology or lobbying. Please provide details regarding: % increase in local/national rates of political engagement & voting rates.
- Increased the proportion of children <5 years old whose births have been registered with a civil authority. Please provide details regarding: total # of births registered via your platform/technology solution, and % increase in local/national registration rates.
- Other KPI (please insert and describe).
OPTIONAL: Please provide a description/overview of 3rd party assurances relating to the verification of the metrics and figures provided above.
EXPLORE THE GLOBAL GOALS
