Conflict, insecurity, weak institutions and limited access to justice remain a great threat to sustainable development. In 2019, the United Nations tracked 357 killings and 30 enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists in 47 countries. The births of around one in four children under age 5 worldwide are never officially recorded, depriving them of a proof of legal identity crucial for the protection of their rights and for access to justice and social services.

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Preservation of human dignity

We must appropriately call on institutions to stand up to corruption and acts made against humanity that all too often attack the most disadvantaged. The fostering of diverse science-backed policy making institutions and respect for the rule of law and equal access to justice for all must become the norm  to reach the SDG 16 Targets and Indicators.

At the core of the 2030 Agenda lies a clear understanding that human rights, peace and security, and development are deeply interlinked and mutually reinforcing. The threats of international homicide, violence against children, human trafficking and sexual violence are important to address to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development. They pave the way for the provision of access to justice for all and for building effective, accountable institutions at all levels. To tackle these challenges and build more peaceful, inclusive societies, there needs to be more efficient and transparent regulations put in place and comprehensive, realistic government budgets. One of the first steps towards protecting individual rights is the implementation of worldwide birth registration and the creation of more independent national human rights institutions around the world.