Intervento della Vice Ministra degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale, Marina Sereni, al 2021 UN High Level Political Forum For Sustainable Development (HLPF 2021). —
Dear Excellences, honorable guests,
I am particularly pleased to participate in this session of the 2021 High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. This is a great opportunity for us to illustrate the outcomes of the SDG16 Conference, which was virtually hosted by Italy last April and organized in partnership with DESA and IDLO.
The pandemic has vividly demonstrated the importance of the three pillars of SDG 16 (justice, peace and inclusion), and their ability to accelerate action on the other Global Goals, including SDGs 3, 5 and 10.
During the Rome conference, we identified three main recommendations in order to get back on track for building more peaceful, equal and inclusive societies.
First, in order to build resilience to shocks and crises, we need to accelerate action to sustain peacebuilding efforts and to promote people-centred justice systems and effective institutions.
Furthermore, we need to implement policies and measures at the national level – to ensure equity in the delivery of public goods and services, and to develop anti-corruption frameworks by monitoring high-risk sectors such as tourism, health, transportation, and e-commerce.
Finally, we agreed on the third recommendation: we need to rethink the idea of governance by placing SDG16 at its centre. Institutional and policy innovations at local, national, regional and international levels can accelerate the implementation of SDG 16 and promote integrated “whole of society” approaches. This is essential in order to tackle complex challenges such as increasing inequalities, social and economic insecurity, climate change and rapid technological disruption.
Let me conclude by saying that a peaceful, just and inclusive recovery will be possible only through transparent and accountable institutions that can guarantee the rule of law, good governance, human rights, gender equality and environmental sustainability.
A continued exchange among Member States, Independent Authorities, the Judiciary, Multilateral Partners, Civil Society and all the relevant actors is crucial to build back better – leaving no one behind.
