Mr. Chair, Excellencies,
I have the honour to report to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development the outcomes of the SDG 16 High Level Conference.
The SDG 16 High Level Conference was co-organized by Italy, UNDESA and IDLO last May 6th, under the theme “Peace, justice and inclusive societies for sustainable development” and served as preparatory conference to this SDG 16 in-depth review at the HLPF.
The SDG 16 Conference serves a major international platform of exchange on SDG 16 implementation at all levels, bringing together representative from Governments, the Judiciary, practitioners, UN and international organizations, civil society, the private sector, experts, local leaders, women and youth championing SDG 16 across all regions of the world.
This year’s Conference marked a special edition, in light of this year’s HLPF and towards the Summit of the Future next September, in order to reaffirm the centrality of Peace, Justice, Institutions and inclusive societies for sustainable development, reaffirming the role of SDG 16 as an enabler for the whole of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, and to galvanize actions to accelerate SDG 16 implementation.
The President of the Republic of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, inaugurated in person the Conference, where he reaffirmed the need to make our societies “more cohesive and equitable, ensuring larger space for civil and political participation for all segments of societies and by making institutions more inclusive and representative at all level, ultimately consolidating the social contract between peoples and institutions”.
The SDG 16 Conference delivered a clear set of evidence-based, action-oriented, key messages, that were presented to the UN Secretary General and circulated to all Member States as official documents of both the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council.
Mr. Chair,
As recalled in the 2030 Agenda, peace and sustainable development are intertwined. Yet, we are experiencing the highest number of conflicts since foundation of the United Nations.
SDG 16 calls for intervening at the root causes of conflicts and violence by rooting Governments to upholding the rule of law at all levels, by ensuring equal access to justice for all, by actively reducing violence in all its dimensions and ensuring more inclusive and effective institutions and ensuring public access to information and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights. The Conference also reaffirmed that gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls is a pre-requisite for peace and sustainable development.
These elements are all being challenged by ongoing intersected and multi-dimensional crises and new emerging challenges, for which more multilateral and multistakeholder cooperation is essential.
As co-convener of the Conference, Italy is honoured to present here the key messages of the Conference, calling for their consideration by Member States in accelerating SDG 16 implementation.
You can certainly continue to count on Italy in this endeavour.
I thank you.
