speech on peace justice and strong institutions

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Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

May 2017 | Action 2030 Blog In DRC, building bridges between peacekeeping and development Have you ever read an article about the failures of UN peacekeeping? And wondered why the UN invests significant money towards sending foreigners into war-torn countries, only to get caught up in stories of sex abuse and some peacekeepers hiding in their bases when the going gets tough?

October 2023 | Story Consigning Poverty to History: The Challenge of Our Time As the world marks the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, hear from the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Country Teams on where the world stands when it comes to poverty and how quality jobs and protections can help restore dignity for millions. 2030 Agenda and the SDGs Poverty reduction Jobs and Livelihoods Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women

January 2021 | Action 2030 Blog The world demands global solidarity to address today's challenges In his first major speech of the year, the UN Secretary-General underlined the need for global cooperation to address today’s challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. COVID-19 Climate Action

November 2020 | Story UNOWAS and its partners promote the participation of women in peace processes In the sub-region, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) remains mobilized to support the effective implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security. COVID-19

May 2022 | Story Bosnia and Herzegovina celebrates 30 years since joining the UN with a solemn ceremony in parliament and #ImagineChange Festival The celebration to mark the thirty-year anniversary of Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the United Nations began last week with a formal programme at the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo and continued with the second edition of the UN's #ImagineChange Festival at the Square of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Trg BiH). Climate Action Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women 2030 Agenda and the SDGs

When the Guatemalan government realized that it had failed to achieve 63 percent of the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it was a

June 2022 | Action 2030 Blog The privilege of serving Looking back on a challenging 2021, the UN Resident Coordinator in Guatemala pays tribute to his colleague and long-time former Resident Coordinator Rebeca Arias Flores, who passed away sadly on the 19th of May after recently retiring from a 30-year career in the UN system. Resident Coordinator 2030 Agenda and the SDGs

March 2022 | Story UN deputy chief urges Resident Coordinators in Africa to maximize their convening power to rescue the SDGs The UN Deputy Secretary-General urged UN Resident Coordinators across Africa to turn a broad range of profound challenges into opportunities with their convening power to support countries for much-needed transformation to “rescue the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” Following the opening ceremony of the eighth Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development on Thursday, Amina J. Mohammed met with Resident Coordinators who gathered in Kigali, Rwanda, from all over the continent. COVID-19

March 2015 | Action 2030 Blog Raising our impact in middle-income countries: What it will take Conflicting emotions hit me today as I read of a man in Turkey who was given a life sentence after killing his wife for giving birth to a girl

February 2022 | Action 2030 Blog The global problem-solving paradox Many of today’s global leaders recognize our common threats—COVID, climate, the unregulated development of new technologies. They agree that something needs to be done about them. Yet that common understanding is not matched by common action. 2030 Agenda and the SDGs

Our shared ability to do something extraordinary, if given a goal and a deadline.

In one decade, we the people, went to the moon.

A goal every

March 2022 | Action 2030 Blog A Sustainable Feminist Recovery The cascading crises of recent years have highlighted how women’s leadership is more crucial than ever. Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women Sustainable Development Goals

February 2022 | Story Guterres says Africa is ‘source of hope’ for the world The UN Secretary-General on Saturday said that Africa was “a source of hope” for the world, highlighting the examples of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Decade of Financial and Economic Inclusion for African Women. 2030 Agenda and the SDGs Climate Action

Lesotho taps into collective intelligence for people’s perceptions of the 2030 Agenda.

Reality is relative. After all, we all perceive the world

April 2021 | Story Tearing down macho culture together in Costa Rica As a 42-year-old man, who has worked for almost three decades in local construction, Jonathan acknowledges that it wasn't strange that women that walk passed a construction job site were victims of all kinds of personal attacks - insults, hisses, catcalling – and other forms of harassment. Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women 2030 Agenda and the SDGs

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On SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

speech on peace justice and strong institutions

When the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted, Goal 16 was seen as truly transformative, formally linking, for the first time at the United Nations, development, peace, justice, and good governance. Some of its more ambitious targets include significantly reducing all forms of violence, ending abuse and violence against children, promoting the rule of law, reducing illicit financial flows and corruption, and developing accountable and transparent institutions.

But Goal 16 was not adopted without controversy. Many countries argued against the intrusion of peace and security, and even more so justice, considerations into the development sphere, and would have preferred that the goal be dropped altogether. Other countries maintained that this goal was central for them and that their support for the 2030 Agenda hinged upon it.

Nearly three years later, progress on Goal 16 is uneven, and there is considerable doubt that it can be achieved at its current implementation rate. Challenges arise in all countries, including Canada, and are likely to become more acute given current trends, particularly those related to violence.

Violence worldwide is on the rise and becoming increasingly complex and multidimensional. Almost half the world’s people have been affected by political violence over the last fifteen years, with lower-income countries bearing a disproportionately high share of the burden of armed violence. Yet developed countries are not immune — in many parts of the developed world, different forms of violence are also on the rise. Canada itself faces domestic challenges in addressing issues of violence and homicide, particularly against women and children.

Canada is also facing challenges in other related areas of Goal 16. Issues of justice for Indigenous Peoples have been much debated but insufficiently addressed over the past four decades. Comprehensively combatting transnational organised crime and illicit financial flows are elusive goals for Canada as well.

The challenge will be linking these subnational priorities with national strategies.

A common impediment for countries attempting to implement Goal 16 is the yawning gaps in reliable data, making it difficult to measure progress in meeting the goal’s targets. Fragile and conflict-affected states, in particular, often have incomplete, imperfect, or a total lack of data. The countries of the world vary hugely in their capacity to collect, monitor, and track indicators.

Moreover, obstacles to reaching the goals of SDG 16 are increasingly encountered in urban areas. Populations in cities are expected to increase to almost 70 per cent by 2050, and cities register higher homicide rates than rural areas. The challenges found within ‘fragile cities’ — characterised by rapid, unregulated urbanisation; high levels of inequality, unemployment, and violence; poor access to key services; and exposure to climate threats — mean that Goal 16 must be addressed at the subnational level.

In this context, one possible approach to accelerate the pace of implementation is to link national and local-level policies, providing greater support to subnational governance institutions. Local and regional governments in many countries have already recognised this, arguing that new institutional arrangements and channels of coordination need to underpin more effective, accountable, and transparent institutions, as well as more responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making. This is necessary for local governments to become more responsive to their communities, and for states to deliver on Goal 16.

Positive initiatives are currently underway that illustrate how this is happening. New forms of participatory decision-making — such as in budgeting and in enhancements to city housing, service delivery, and slum conditions — have led to improvements in public security and urban safety. Local governments have been working internationally and nationally to share relevant information and innovative, frequently data-driven, solutions.

The challenge will be linking these subnational priorities with national strategies. For example, Canada’s progress in implementing its Federal Sustainable Development Strategy 2016–2019, which focuses on the environmental aspects of the SDGs, does not sufficiently account for Goal 16, even though one of the aims of the strategy is to build safe, secure, and sustainable communities. However, at the provincial level, many strategies overlap with the SDGs — without specifically mentioning them — focusing on employment, education, and environmental concerns, but less commonly on violence and justice.

Achieving implementation of Goal 16 is a daunting task globally, for poorer countries in particular. The plethora of targets and indicators aiming to guide them tends to create white noise. Some countries have been felt disempowered by the ambition and wide spectrum of the 2030 Agenda, as much as they have been able to harness its potential for energising society. This has represented an obvious downside in practice to the United Nations’ otherwise admirable effort to design an all-encompassing agenda.

National governments will get to showcase their achievements at the United Nations High Level Political Forum, which is reviewing Goal 16 in 2019. Until then, greater effort is required nearly everywhere to achieve implementation of national policies towards this goal. Improved links between the national and subnational levels will move us all in the right direction.

This essay is part of Awakening — a collection of essays and artwork exploring sustainable development, organized by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Canada.

David M. Malone

Dr David M. Malone is Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.

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Action Platform for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Remarks at UN Global Compact – Action Platform for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

July 18, 2019

Achim Steiner

UNDP Administrator

As prepared for delivery Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, For UNDP, partnership with the private sector is an absolute priority for delivering Agenda 2030 and unlocking the $12 trillion needed to deliver the SDGs. Engagement of the private sector in promoting peaceful, just and inclusive societies is critically important and we know from experience that the private sector is already playing a key role. I will emphasize three points today:

Firstly, how multi-national companies do business matters. Over 1 billion people either work for a multi-national or a multi-national supply chain - or are supported by a family member who does. The SDGs are grounded in human rights and in UNDP we have learned that when businesses respect human rights, they naturally align their operations to the 2030 Agenda and more specifically to the targets of SDG16. It is essential that multi-nationals adhere to human and environmental rights, to avoid reversals of sustainable development and this has an impact across the SDGs: For example: - By investing more in monitoring, auditing and complaints systems in supply chains, businesses contribute to end forced labor– relevant to SDG 8. - When businesses provide for living wages, they promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth with the greatest impact for the poorest – relevant to efforts to address inequality in SDG 10. - When businesses conduct robust environmental impact assessments, they reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination – critical for SDG 3. - Businesses can develop and enforce anti-discrimination gender policies while ensuring women’s full and effective participation in economic life – highly relevant to SDG 5. UNDP supports these efforts by working with member states and the private sector to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including by strengthening and supporting the roles of civil society and national human rights institutions to make the Guiding Principles a reality. For example, In India and Bangladesh, UNDP is helping companies in developing Human Rights Impact Assessment tools and to weed-out Human Rights risks related to gender-based discrimination in the work place. Secondly, active engagement in the Global Alliance provides a space for the private sector to contribute to the SDG 16 agenda in close cooperation with Member States and civil society. Our partners – many of you present here today - are already demonstrating the value of your contributions to SDG 16+. UNDP as the facilitator of the Global Alliance has been leading on the new Global Alliance Report on SDG 16 with other UN partners. One of the key recommendations of the report launched this week is to further include the private sector in promotion of SDG 16+, especially related to reporting for action. We are currently exploring how to make this work through UNDP’s engagement working with the private sector to provide complementing date to measure Goal 16 in Somalia. Lastly, we believe that working more closely together with the UN Global Compact will advance progress on Goal 16. UNDP warmly welcomes the UN Global Compact Action Platform for Peace, Justice and strong Institutions and I call upon the members of the UN Global Compact Network to support implementation of the UN Guiding Principles through the Action Platform. In conclusion, let me take this opportunity to congratulate UN Global Compact on this event and the launch of the action platforms. UNDP is fully committed to work more closely with private sector partners to propel progress on Goal 16 and support the Action Platform for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

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GOAL 16: PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Goal 16 aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Peace, stability, human rights and effective governance, based on the rule of law, are central to the realization of child rights, and a prerequisite for sustainable development. Governments can offer the first line of protection: birth registration systems give children claim to vital social services, equitable justice systems and other forms of child protection.

No child should ever be exposed to violence. Yet, globally, millions of children continue to face violence in their homes, schools, communities and online. Violence takes many forms: emotional, physical and sexual. Witnessing or experiencing violence erodes a child’s health, well-being and potential.

UNICEF’s contribution towards reaching this goal centres on ending the multiple kinds of violence children face around the world by supporting governments to build stronger child protection systems and challenging existing norms related to violence. UNICEF is custodian for global monitoring of two indicators that measure progress towards Goal 16: Indicator 16.2.1 Proportion of children aged 1–17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers in the past month; and Indicator 16.2.3 Proportion of young women and men aged 18–29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18. UNICEF is also co-custodian for global monitoring of Indicator 16.9.1 Proportion of children under 5 years of age whose births have been registered with a civil authority by age.

Child-related SDG indicators

Target 16.1 significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere, number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age.

Indicator definition
Computation method
Comments & limitations

Violent death is widely seen at the international and national levels as the most extreme form of violent crime and gives insight into the levels of security in a given country. Monitoring intentional homicides is necessary to better assess their causes, drivers and consequences and, in the longer term, to develop effective preventive measures.

In several countries, two separate sets of data on intentional homicide are produced, respectively, from criminal justice and public health/civil registration systems. When they exist, figures from both data sources are reported. When data are not available from either criminal justice or from public health/civil registration, modelled estimates are used.

The indicator is defined as the total count of victims of intentional homicide divided by the total population, expressed per 100,000 population.

As per the International Classification of Crime for Statistical Purposes (ICCS), intentional homicide is defined as the unlawful death inflicted upon a person with the intent to cause death or serious injury.

Numerator: Number of victims of intentional homicide in a given year. Denominator: Resident population in the same year.

Producing accurate counts on the number and causes of death among children and adolescents is particularly difficult. Such deaths may not be systematically recorded by criminal justice or vital registration systems, or age disaggregated data may not be available. Data on victims are often compiled in broad age categories that do not allow for the calculation of specific statistics on children. Additionally, determining cause of death, particularly when victims are very young, can be challenging even in countries with advanced and well-functioning health and registration systems. Registration systems that are operating effectively compile vital statistics on the occurrence of births and deaths during a given period. These data are then combined with figures obtained through medical and police records resulting from the certification of causes of individual deaths and the investigation of criminal cases. However, in many countries, administrative data pertaining to intentional injuries and deaths are not systematically collected, may not be accessible or may not be adequately compiled across sources. Calculating reliable figures from these basic counts is often not possible due to weaknesses in data collection systems, such as incomplete coverage or misrepresentation of the events.

Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population, by sex, age and cause

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development seeks to strengthen universal peace and commits to redouble efforts to resolve or prevent conflict. It recognizes that there can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development. Counting deaths occurring in situations of armed conflict is therefore essential to the measurement of the Agenda, including and beyond its Goal 16.

This indicator measures the prevalence of armed conflicts and their impact in terms of loss of life. Together with the indicator 16.1.1 on intentional homicide, they measure violent deaths that occur in all countries of the world (intentional homicides) and in situations of armed conflict (conflict-related deaths).

This indicator is defined as the total count of conflict related deaths divided by the total population, expressed per 100,000 population.

Conflict is defined as armed conflict in reference to a terminology enshrined in international humanitarian law and applied to situations based on the assessment of the UN and other internationally mandated entities. Conflict-related deaths refer to direct and indirect deaths associated with armed conflict. These deaths may have been caused by (i) the use of weapons or (ii) other means and methods. Deaths caused by weapons include but are not limited to those inflicted by firearms, missiles, mines and bladed weapons. It may also include deaths resulting from aerial attacks and bombardments (e.g., of military bases, cities and villages), crossfire, explosive remnants of war, targeted killings or assassinations, and force protection incidents. Deaths caused by other means and methods may include deaths from torture or sexual and gender-based violence, intentional killing using starvation, depriving prisoners of access to health care or denying access to essential goods and services (e.g., an ambulance stopped at a checkpoint).

Indirect deaths are deaths resulting from a loss of access to essential goods and services (e.g., economic slowdown, shortages of medicines or reduced farming capacity that result in lack of access to adequate food, water, sanitation, health care and safe conditions of work) that are caused or aggravated by the situation of armed conflict.

By definition, these deaths should be separated from other violent deaths, which are, in principle, not connected to the situation of armed conflict (e.g., intentional and non-intentional homicides, self-defense, self-inflicted), but are still relevant to the implementation and measurement of SDG target 16.1.

Population refers to total resident population in a given situation of armed conflict included in the indicator, in a given year. Population data are derived from annual estimates produced by the UN Population Division.

Numerator: The total count of conflict- related deaths. Denominator: The total population, expressed per 100,000 population.

Discrepancies might exist between national definitions, international statistical and legal standards, coverage and quality of data, according to the mandate, methods and capacity of data providers.

In situations of armed conflict, a large share of deaths may not be reported. Often, normal registration systems are heavily affected by the presence of armed conflict. Additionally, actors on both sides of an armed conflict may have incentives for misreporting, deflating or inflating casualties. In most instances, the number of cases reported will depend on access to conflict zones, access to information, motivation and perseverance of both international and national actors, such as UN peace missions and other internationally mandated entities, national institutions (e.g., national statistical offices, national human rights institutions) and relevant civil society organizations.

Disaggregating data by characteristics of victims and by causes of death is particularly complex and may result in limited data availability for children.

TARGET 16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children

Percentage of children (aged 1-14 years) who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers.

Explore the Data

Violent discipline at home is the most common form of violence experienced by children. While teaching children self-control and acceptable behaviour is an integral part of child rearing in all cultures, many caregivers rely on the use of violent methods, both physical and psychological, to punish unwanted behaviours and encourage desired ones.

Regardless of the type, all forms are violations of children’s rights. While children of all ages are at risk, experiencing violent discipline at a young age can be particularly harmful, given the increased potential for physical injuries as well as children’s inability to understand the motivation behind the act or to adopt coping strategies to alleviate their distress.

Proportion of children aged 1 to 14 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression at home in the past month. The rationale for using a proxy indicator for SDG 16.2.1 is because comparable data are currently only available for a subset of children aged 1 to 14 years.

The following definitions come from the MICS programme, the principal source of data for this indicator:

Physical (or corporal) punishment is an action intended to cause physical pain or discomfort, but not injuries. Physical punishment is defined as shaking a child, hitting or slapping him/her on the hand/arm/leg, hitting him/her on the bottom or elsewhere on the body with a hard object, spanking or hitting him/her on the bottom with a bare hand, hitting or slapping him/her on the face, head or ears, and beating him/her over and over as hard as possible.

Psychological aggression refers to the action of shouting, yelling or screaming at a child, as well as calling a child offensive names, such as ‘dumb’ or ‘lazy’.

The term violent discipline encompasses any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression.

‘Past month’ typically refers to the 30 days prior to the interview/data collection (in other words, has the child experienced violent discipline at any point in the 30 days prior to data collection). ‘Caregiver’ refers to any adult household member with caregiving responsibilities for the child (not just the primary caregiver or the respondent to the questionnaire).

Numerator: Number of children aged 1 to 14 years who have experienced any physical punishment and/ or psychological aggression by caregivers in the past month.

Denominator: Total number of children aged 1 to 14 years in the population.

In the third and fourth rounds of MICS, the standard indicator referred to the proportion of children aged 2 to 14 years who experienced any form of violent discipline (physical punishment and/or psychological aggression) within the past month. Beginning with the fifth round of MICS, the age group covered was expanded to capture children’s experiences with disciplinary practices between the ages of 1 and 14 years. Therefore, current data availability does not capture the full age range specified in the SDG indicator since data are not collected for adolescents aged 15 to 17 years. Further methodological work is needed to identify additional items on disciplinary practices relevant to older adolescents.

Click on the button below to explore the data behind this indicator.

Explore the data

Proportion of young women and men aged 18-29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18

Sexual violence is one of the most unsettling of children’s rights violations. As such, it is the subject of dedicated international legal instruments aimed at protecting children against its multiple forms. Acts of sexual violence, which often occur together and with other forms of violence, can range from direct physical contact to unwanted exposure to sexual language and images. Although children of every age are susceptible, adolescence is a period of pronounced vulnerability.

Although estimates can be found of the number of children who have experienced sexual violence, one of the biggest challenges in this field is underreporting, which stymies efforts to generate accurate statistics. In fact, most victims do not disclose experiences of childhood sexual abuse until adulthood, while many others (a number impossible to quantify) remain silent for their entire lives.

Proportion of young women and men aged 18 to 29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18. This indicator is always reported on separately for women and men.

Sexual violence is often used as an umbrella term to cover all types of sexual victimization.19 According to General Comment No. 13 on the CRC, sexual violence against children “comprises any sexual activities imposed by an adult on a child against which the child is entitled to protection by criminal law”.20 Sexual violence is operationally defined in the indicator as sexual intercourse or any other sexual acts that were forced, physically or in any other way. This indicator captures all experiences of sexual violence that occurred during childhood (i.e., prior to age 18) regardless of the legal age of consent stipulated in relevant national legislation.

Numerator: Number of young women and men aged 18 to 29 years who report having experienced any sexual violence by age 18 Denominator: Total number of young women and men aged 18 to 29 years in the population

The availability of comparable data remains a serious challenge in this area as many data collection efforts have relied on different study methodologies and designs, definitions of sexual violence, samples and questions to elicit information. Data on the experiences of boys are particularly sparse. A further challenge in this field is underreporting, especially when it comes to experiences of sexual violence among boys and men.

TARGET 16.9 By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration

Percentage of children under age 5 whose births are registered.

Birth registration is a first step towards safeguarding individual rights and providing every person with access to justice and social services. Thus, birth registration is not only a fundamental human right, but also key to ensuring the fulfilment of other rights.

Birth registration is an essential part of a functioning civil registration system that produces vital statistics, which are essential for sound government planning and effective use of resources. In this way, target 16.9 is linked to targets 17.18 and 17.19, both of which concern statistical capacity-building support to developing countries.

Proportion of children under 5 years of age whose births have been registered with a civil authority.

Birth registration is defined as the official recording of the occurrence and characteristics of births in accordance with the legal requirements of a country.

Civil authorities/registrars are the officials authorized to register the occurrence of vital events, including births.

Numerator: Number of children under age 5 whose births are reported as being registered with the relevant national civil authorities.

Denominator: Total number of children under age 5 in the population.

Substantial differences can exist between CRVS coverage and birth registration levels as captured by household surveys. The differences are primarily because data from CRVS typically refer to the proportion of all births that have been registered (often within a specific time frame), whereas household surveys often report on the proportion of children under age 5 whose births are registered. The latter (the level of registration among children under 5) is specified in the SDG indicator.

Data from household surveys like MICS or DHS sometimes refer only to children with a birth certificate. UNICEF methodically notes this difference when publishing country-level estimates for global monitoring.

One of the most common pitfalls with questionnaire design involves respondents’ misunderstanding of the actual registration process. For example, respondents might be unaware of the specific authorities legally tasked with birth registration and might therefore misinterpret the act of notifying a church or village chief of a birth as formal registration. To address this ambiguity, household survey questionnaires are often customized to include reference to the specific national authority responsible for registration. Similarly, respondents might confuse a birth certificate with a health card or other document and thus inaccurately report children as registered. Despite attempts to resolve such issues, confusion about the process of birth registration might still exist and result in erroneous reporting.

To mitigate risks during the pandemic, governments must prioritize maintaining and adapting critical prevention and response services to protect children from violence and ensure their access to justice, as part of their public health response. UNICEF has three key asks of governments towards Goal 16:

Peaceful societies – to protect children from violence, exploitation and abuse.
Just societies – to ensure that every child is fully respected, protected and fulfilled.
Inclusive societies – to engage all children in processes and decisions that affect them and society more broadly.

Learn more about UNICEF’s key asks for implementing Goal 16

See more Sustainable Development Goals

ZERO HUNGER

GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING

QUALITY EDUCATION

GENDER EQUALITY

CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION

AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY

DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

REDUCED INEQUALITIES

CLIMATE ACTION

PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS

PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

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Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Without peace, stability, human rights and effective governance, based on the rule of law we cannot hope for sustainable development. We are living in a world that is increasingly divided. Some regions enjoy sustained levels of peace, security and prosperity, while others fall into seemingly endless cycles of conflict and violence. This is by no means inevitable and must be addressed.

High levels of armed violence and insecurity have a destructive impact on a country’s development, affecting economic growth and often resulting in long standing grievances that can last for generations. Sexual violence, crime, exploitation and torture are also prevalent where there is conflict or no rule of law, and countries must take measures to protect those who are most at risk.

Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable institutions at all levels. The objective is to significantly reduce all forms of violence, and work with governments and communities to find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity. Strengthening the rule of law and promoting human rights is crucial to this process, as is reducing the flow of illicit arms and strengthening the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance.

Learn more about SDG 16 , including facts, figures, targets and links to more information.

The Sustainable Development Goals Explained: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

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United Nations - 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.

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Goal 16 Peace, justice and strong institutions

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Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies

Peace, stability, human rights and effective governance based on the rule of law are important conduits for sustainable development. We are living in a world that is increasingly divided. Some regions enjoy sustained levels of peace, security and prosperity while others fall into seemingly endless cycles of conflict and violence. This is by no means inevitable and must be addressed.

High levels of armed violence and insecurity have a destructive impact on a country’s development, affecting economic growth and often resulting in long standing grievances among communities that can last for generations. Sexual violence, crime, exploitation and torture are also prevalent where there is conflict or no rule of law, and countries must take measures to protect those who are most at risk.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to significantly reduce all forms of violence, and work with governments and communities to find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity. Strengthening the rule of law and promoting human rights is key to this process, as is reducing the flow of illicit arms and strengthening the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance.

Promoting peace and justice is one of 17 Global Goals that make up the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development . An integrated approach is crucial for progress across the multiple goals.

Learn more about the targets for Goal 16 .

Among the institutions most affected by corruption are the judiciary and police.
Corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost some US $1.26 trillion for developing countries per year; this amount of money could be used to lift those who are living on less than $1.25 a day above $1.25 for at least six years
Birth registration has occurred for 73 per cent of children under 5, but only 46per cent of Sub-Saharan Africa have had their births registered.
Approximately 28.5 million primary school age who are out of school live in conflict-affected areas.
The rule of law and development have a significant interrelation and are mutually reinforcing, making it essential for sustainable development at the national and international level.
The proportion of prisoners held in detention without sentencing has remained almost constant in the last decade, at 31per cent of all prisoners .

Violence against children

The number of people fleeing war, persecution and conflict exceeded 70 million in 2018, the highest level recorded by the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) in almost 70 years.
In 2019, the United Nations tracked 357 killings and 30 enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists in 47 countries.
Violence against children affects more than 1 billion children around the world and costs societies up to US$ 7 trillion a year.
50 per cent of the world’s children experience violence every year.
Every 7 minutes, somewhere in the world, a child is killed by violence
1 in 10 children is sexually abused before the age of 18.
9 in 10 children live in countries where corporal punishment is not fully prohibited, leaving 732 million children without legal protection.
1 in 3 internet users worldwide is a child and 800 million of them use social media. Any child can become a victim of online violence.
Child online sexual abuse reports to NCMEC has grown from 1 million in 2014 to 45 million in 2018.
246 million children worldwide affected by school-related violence each year.
1 in 3 students has been bullied by their peers at school in the last month, and at least 1 in 10 children have experienced cyberbullying.
Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children
Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime
Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels
Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance
By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration
Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements
Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime
Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development

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Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

First Online: 13 April 2021

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Joel C. Gill 3 , 4 ,
Amel Barich 5 ,
Nic Bilham 4 , 6 , 7 ,
Sarah Caven 8 ,
Amy Donovan 9 ,
Marleen de Ruiter 10 &
Martin Smith 11

Part of the book series: Sustainable Development Goals Series ((SDGS))

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Gill, J.C. et al. (2021). Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. In: Gill, J.C., Smith, M. (eds) Geosciences and the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38815-7_16

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PEACE, JUSTICE & STRONG INSTITUTIONS

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About | COP26 PRESIDENCY | PUBLISHING | Team | GWA | Clean energy | UN-SDG | Media | Contact | Internships | News

Oct 8, 2018

India's stance on SDG 16: Peace, Justice And Strong Institutions

The Challenge

Violence is perhaps the most significant and destructive challenge to the development, growth, wellbeing, and the very survival of countries around the world. Fatalities resulting from armed conflict are rising in some parts of the world, causing mass displacement within countries and across borders, and resulting in massive humanitarian crises that adversely impact every aspect of our developmental efforts. Other forms of violence – crime and sexual and gender based violence – also remain a global challenge. Young people are especially vulnerable; 43% of all homicides globally involve young people between 10 and 29 years of age, and children make up a third of human trafficking victims worldwide. But violence can also take more insidious forms. The institutional violence of unaccountable legal and judicial systems, and depriving people of their human rights and fundamental freedoms all constitute forms of violence and injustice. Corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost developing countries around USD1.26 trillion per year; money that could be used to lift many above the international poverty threshold of USD 1.90 a day for at least six years.

Why is this important?

The first step to fulfilling any aspect of the global sustainable development agenda for 2030 will begin with restoring security and human rights to individuals whose very lives and basic freedoms are under threat either due to direct violence or through institutional restrictions to justice. Many of the countries that did not achieve their Millennium Development Goal targets by 2015 were countries experiencing armed conflict and instability.

How can we address this?

Goal 16 is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all, and building accountable institutions at all levels. National and global institutions have to be more transparent and effective, including local governance and judicial systems which are critical to the guarantee of human rights, law and order, and security.

India and Goal 16

In India, the judiciary is overburdened due to the large number of pending cases, with the backlog touching 33 million in 2018 – 28.4 million cases pending in subordinate courts, 4.3 million in High Courts and 57,987 cases in the Supreme Court. India has prioritised the strengthening of justice through government initiatives including Pragati Platform , a public grievance redressal system, and the Development of Infrastructure Facilities for the Judiciary including Gram Nyayalays for villages.

Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organised crime.

Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.

Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.

Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance.

By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.

Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international co-operation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.

Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.

TAGS: Dominic Dixon , United Nations , Dominic F Dixon , Dr. Dominic Dixon , UN SDG

Development
International

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: How Effective & Just Enforcement Systems Contribute to Global Accountancy Development

Strong governance and a robust investigation and discipline (I&D) system are core elements of a professional accountancy organization (PAO). An effective I&D system should protect the public interest in a proportionate way. Not only does this provide assurance to those using a professional accountant’s services, but it also protects the reputation of the PAO and the profession.

This is why investigation & discipline is one of the core IFAC membership requirements, under Statement of Membership Obligation (SMO) 6 .

A commitment to delivering public value and robust regulation of the profession is central to ACCA’s vision to develop the accountancy profession that the world needs. This focus on public value and ethics is also embedded in the commitments that ACCA made in 2019 to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 16: Peace, justice, and strong institutions . Our commitment being: ACCA will promote and adhere to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethics.

ACCA’s longstanding I&D system continues to evolve today to meet global standards, the needs of a rapidly changing world (particularly in response to the global pandemic), and to react to our own evolution and growth as a global organization. Learning from and sharing with partners, including the global PAO community, is something that ACCA has been doing for many years.

This has included knowledge sharing on the principles and approaches that form the basis of ACCA’s I&D service at recent forums, such as:

The ASEAN Federation of Accountants/IFAC SMO workshop in December 2021
A webinar to support the United Arab Emirates Accountants and Auditors Association with establishing an I&D mechanism in February 2022;
An upcoming Arab Federation of Accountants and Auditors and IFAC regional workshop
A seminar with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean

ACCA’s Director - Professional Conduct, Joe Johnson, who has responsibility for the delivery of ACCA’s I&D service, commented: “A key focus of my role is delivering an efficient and effective [I&D] service that is fair and transparent and that protects the public interest in a way that is balanced and proportionate to our members interests.”

While PAOs vary in size and regulatory remit, there are some underlying principles that are important to all PAOs irrespective of size; these principles, and some examples of how this is applied within ACCA’s context, are set out below.

Underlying Principles

Public interest , which in this context includes considerations such as protection of the public, maintenance of public confidence, and declaring and upholding proper standards of conduct.
Proportionality both from a member perspective, but also from a resource perspective. Essentially this is a balancing act! It is important that sanctions and other outcomes are not unduly penal in nature and that any action taken by the PAO is proportionate when compared to the risk to the public. Resource should be focused on those matters that pose the highest risk to the public (see Proportionality of Sanctions in IFAC’s SMO 6).
Fairness and transparency – It is important that any I&D system is credible and well respected. It not only acts to protect the public interest, but it also helps maintain PAO’s reputation and brand. Systems need to be fair and transparent , processes documented, and rules, regulations, and guidance publicly available. Findings should be evidence based and decisions subject to public scrutiny, unless there are exceptional circumstances (see Administrative Processes and Public Interest Considerations in IFAC’s SMO 6).
Independence and impartiality are connected to fairness. Wherever possible, a PAO should incorporate independent “check points” to ensure robust oversight and governance of processes and decisions made. This includes those involved in decision making declaring any conflict of interest, and ensuring decision makers are objective, capable of identifying bias, and taking decisions that are unbiased. They should also be careful to ensure that any apparent bias is managed appropriately, including by recusing themselves if necessary (see Investigative Process and Disciplinary Process sections in IFAC’s SMO 6).

As an example, the process below is similar to that used by ACCA, with those elements which include independent “check points” and decision making highlighted in green:

Key considerations for implementing an I&D system

Some important considerations when identifying the steps to implement and operate a just and effective I&D service include:

Documentation is the backbone to an effective investigative and disciplinary system with regulations and guidance made publicly available to ensure transparency.
Processes must be determined and documented . They must be fair and transparent, agile and adaptable.
Structuring needs to be considered . It is important that roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, allowing for independent assessment and decision making. And that consideration is given to how the service will be practically implemented, including likely resourcing needs and availability of funding.
It goes without saying, that legal and regulatory considerations are also key .

Support to gain a ‘head start’ on how to practically implement the underlying principles can be sought from other PAOs and IFAC, particularly through IFAC’s PAO Development and Advisory Group. There is a wealth of guidance and resources that can be accessed by PAOs looking to collate and develop this documentation, for example:

IFAC Self-Assessment Against Main Requirements of SMO 6 (available in Arabic, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian)
IFAC’s PAO Development and Advisory Group Point of View: Trust, Transparency, and Accountability & the Importance of Effective Enforcement Systems
Aplicación Efectiva de un Sistema de Investigación y Disciplina como Pilar de la Profesión Contable , a presentation from IFAC and the Colegio de Contadores Públicos de Costa Rica available in Spanish
The CAPA Maturity Model Guidance Series: Investigation & Discipline

ACCA’s I&D service will continue to evolve and build on these core principles, meeting global good practice and aligning with our broader governance functions, oversight of our members, and internal reporting. All of this, and more, is expanded upon in the presentation below.

Mahalah Groves

Mahalah Groves is Head of Capacity Building at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). ACCA’s global community of 227,000 members and 544,000 and future members is based across 176 countries. Mahalah supports many of ACCA’s key partnerships across the global accountancy profession and has oversight of ACCA’s funded international development work.

Mahalah has been with ACCA since 2008 and, in her current role as Head of Capacity Building, she leads a wide variety of development projects to strengthen the accountancy profession. A portfolio that currently includes capacity building projects across Africa, Asia Pacific, Eastern Europe and South Asia. Her experience includes initiatives to implement international standards, develop strategy, and strengthen qualifications and regulation – and to support partner bodies in their journey toward membership of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

Since 2017, Mahalah is a technical advisor to a member of the IFAC Professional Accountancy Organisation Development Committee (PAODC). Mahalah also plays a key role in ACCA’s partnerships with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the international development community.

Prior to joining ACCA, Mahalah’s professional experience included intellectual property and brand development.

Joe Johnson

Director, Professional Conduct, ACCA

Joe Johnson is the director, professional conduct, at ACCA where she is responsible for the delivery of ACCA’s disciplinary processes. In this role, Ms. Johnson is focused on delivering an efficient and effective service that is fair and transparent, and protecting the public interest in a way that is balanced and proportionate for ACCA’s members’ interests.

Ms. Johnson is an experienced solicitor with a Master of Laws and strong expertise in corporate compliance, risk management and managing key relationships with regulatory and legal stakeholders. Ms. Johnson joined ACCA in October 2020 from Pay.UK, the retail payments authority, where she was General Counsel.

Security Council

Security Council Calls for Strengthening Africa’s Role in Addressing Global Security, Development Challenges, Adopting Presidential Statement ahead of Day-long Debate

The Security Council today unanimously adopted a presidential statement aimed at strengthening the role of African countries in addressing global security and development challenges, as speakers debated the intricate and complex dynamics between peace and development in those States and across their continent.

By the presidential statement (to be issued as S/PRST/2024/2 ), the Council reiterated its “support for the role of the African Union and sub-regional organizations in promoting peace and security on the continent” and its readiness to consider appropriate support, including to African Union-led peace support operations through the implementation of Council resolution 2719 (2023) on a case-by-case basis.

Through the text, the Council also expressed support for progress in enhancing the role and representation of African States in global governance and decision-making processes. Furthermore, the 15-member organ called on the international community to honour their respective commitments regarding financing for development and support the strengthening of the capabilities of African States to seize the opportunities for a proactive engagement with the wider world and advance African ownership of international peace, security and development efforts.

“Africa is home to many examples of unity and solidarity in a fractured world,” said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, as he opened today’s debate, citing the region’s focus on supporting refugees fleeing across borders, and achieving sustainable development, such as poverty and hunger eradication and renewable energy transitions.

However, he pointed out, “all of these efforts require peace in Africa and beyond,” noting that “too many Africans are caught up in the hell of conflicts, or living with the relentless danger of terrorism and violent extremism in their communities.”

“The human cost of these conflicts is heartbreaking, and the cost to development is incalculable,” he said, asserting: “Now is the time to unleash Africa’s peace power” and strengthen Africa’s peace leadership on the continent and the global stage.

The African Union’s adequate representation and effective participation in international affairs will be a “public good”, said Bankole Adeoye, the bloc’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security. In that regard, the UN’s Security Council must be enlarged to be more inclusive, pro-Africa, democratic, responsive, legitimate, equitable and accountable.

Welcoming the 2023 decision to expand Group of 20 (G20) membership to include the African Union, he said this serves as a “viable model” and boosts realization of the African Continental Free Trade Area as well as the bloc’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s 2030 Agenda.

For its part, the Peacebuilding Commission “stands ready to offer its expertise in laying the groundwork for transitions and durable solutions, including through addressing root causes of conflict, and to engage with African countries on their path to stability and prosperity”, said its Chair Sérgio França Danese (Brazil).

In November 2023, the Commission and the African Union Peace and Security Council discussed ways to strengthen their cooperation. It is “essential to ensure that African countries can build a foundation for sustainable peace according to their specific needs and priorities, based on national ownership”, he said, adding that the Commission can assist by connecting countries needing financial support with international financial institutions and other potential partners.

Nearly 50 delegations participated in the day-long discussion, with the Council hearing growing calls — loud and clear — for African representation in its permanent and non-permanent membership. Speakers also highlighted the importance of bringing “African solutions to African problems”, and the timeliness of today’s debate as May 2024 marks 60 years since the African Union’s founding and 20 years since the launch of the bloc’s Peace and Security Council — the pillar of the African peace and security architecture.

The three African non-permanent members of the Council each called for reforming the 15-member organ to reflect their region’s growing importance in global affairs. “Representational legitimacy is a necessary condition for good institutional performance,” said the representative of Sierra Leone, underscoring that African countries have little say in the Council’s decisions that affect them. The speaker for Algeria also called on the international community to rectify historical injustices by enhancing the representation of Africa within the Council.

The representative of Mozambique, Council President for May and the architect of today’s debate, said that when united, African countries “form a powerful, unified bloc that serves the interests of the Global South”. Africa should continue to advocate for addressing the structural deficiencies of the multilateral system, particularly at the Council and international financial institutions. However, “visibility should be a means to an end — not a goal in itself,” he asserted.

The representatives of France and the United Kingdom joined others in expressing support for enlarging the Council’s membership, with the former proposing a membership of about 25 with an enhanced African presence, including in the permanent category. The latter welcomed the African Union’s G20 membership as an important step in “ensuring that global governance represents the world of today”. He stressed, however, that “we should go further”, expressing support for permanent African representation in the Council and a greater role for low-income, vulnerable African States on the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) boards.

Guyana’s representative was among those spotlighting the historical legacy of colonialism on the continent. “We see a familiar storyline across several conflicts in Africa where actors with commercial and other interests in several African countries in conflict situations manipulate those conflicts with the sole aim of preserving those interests,” she said, urging the Council to take a firm stance against this phenomenon, which can be deemed as “a new form of colonialism”.

On that, India’s delegate said that sustainable peace and security “is possible only if external forces do not intervene for vested interests”, calling for stronger African voices at multilateral organizations so they can argue their own case. This conviction drove her country to successfully campaign for the admission of the African Union into G20 during its 2023 presidency, she added.

“No one knows Africa better than African States,” said China’s representative, stressing the importance of respecting their leadership in addressing their continent’s problems. However, the delegate of Switzerland said the principle of “African solutions to African problems” does not relieve the international community of its responsibilities because solutions often contribute to a global common good, such as combating cross-border factors of instability and creating conditions conducive to growth, sustainable development and integration.

Several speakers highlighted dozens of elections in 2024 in Africa. The representative of South Africa said that despite some incidents of unconstitutional changes of Governments and protracted armed conflicts in some States, “the holding of regular peaceful elections have become a norm rather than an exception”. His counterpart from Rwanda said that with 37 per cent of them electing their leaders in 2024, it is vital to “support each other’s democratization”.

MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, Secretary-General of the United Nations , acknowledged that “Africa is home to many examples of unity and solidarity in a fractured world,” citing the region’s focus on ending poverty and hunger, supporting refugees fleeing across borders, and achieving sustainable development. Other examples include the African Union’s Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area, the continent’s leadership in renewable energy transitions and potential to become a renewable energy powerhouse, and its bold advocacy for reforming the global financial architecture. However, “all of these efforts require peace in Africa and beyond,” he stressed, noting that “too many Africans are caught up in the hell of conflicts, or living with the relentless danger of terrorism and violent extremism in their communities”.

He said that the Sahel has been rocked by unconstitutional changes of Government. Terrorism and violent extremism are spreading in the Lake Chad Basin, Somalia and elsewhere. Violence is continuing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Horn of Africa. The humanitarian nightmare is deepening in Sudan. Many African countries are still suffering the impact of the pandemic, higher rates of debt and escalating climate impacts. “The human cost of these conflicts is heartbreaking, and the cost to development is incalculable,” he said, asserting: “Now is the time to unleash Africa’s peace power” and strengthen Africa’s peace leadership on the continent and the global stage.

Partnerships between the United Nations and Africa are based on the principle of African-led solutions to African problems, he said, and expressed full support for the African Union’s flagship “Silencing the Guns” initiative. The United Nations is working closely with the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and others to end the scourge of terrorism. The Security Council adopted resolution 2719 (2023) to support African Union-led peace support operations, he said, adding that the two organizations will be developing a joint road map to take forward this important breakthrough. These types of partnerships are central to his “A New Agenda for Peace” policy brief, which connects the dots between development and sustainable peace, the Secretary-General said, pledging: “The African Union and the United Nations will continue working together to defuse conflicts before they escalate, manage them effectively when they occur, and build sustainable peace when they are resolved”.

African participation and leadership must be embedded across the global peace and security architecture, he stressed. Following the Second World War, the global governance mechanisms were designed by the most powerful countries at that time, as many African countries were still struggling to throw off the shackles of colonialism. Since then, the world has changed, but African countries continue to be denied a seat at the negotiating table, including at the Security Council. Despite these structural inequalities, African States are stepping up and contributing to peaceful solutions beyond the continent, he said. For example, Kenya is leading the upcoming Multilateral Security Support Mission in Haiti, with other African countries offering to send troops, he added.

“Africa deserves a voice in the global peace and security architecture” and their participation “as equals” must be ensured, he said, including correcting the lack of permanent African representation in the Council and reforming the global financial architecture. September’s Summit of the Future will be an opportunity to push forward on all of these issues, he said, urging African Member States to put forward specific proposals aimed at enhancing Africa’s representation within all global governance structures. “Peace is the key to unlocking Africa’s future,” he observed, also stressing: “Peace depends on African leadership”.

BANKOLE ADEOYE, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security , said that Africa’s vast natural resources, strategic location and youth make it a significant, valued actor in the international system. “Its perspectives provide fresh insights for a changing world,” he added. Further, addressing insecurity — particularly terrorism and violent extremism — as well as economic and governance challenges requires multi-dimensional and African-led structured solutions premised on global security. “At the very root of these challenges,” he stressed, is the “state of health” of individual African States and the quality of their engagement with the rest of the world. For its part, the African Union is committed to build strong African States that will boost global security and development. Pointing out that African institutions are currently being tested by the combined weight of the impacts of climate change and other socioeconomic implications, he urged several actions to enhance African States’ ability to address multiple challenges.

First, he underlined the need to reconfigure the global peace and security architecture. Renewed multilateralism for the sake of global stability is necessary, he stressed, adding: “This is Africa’s right, and not just a demand.” Additionally, the Security Council must be enlarged to be more inclusive, pro-Africa, democratic, responsive, legitimate, equitable and accountable. Welcoming the 2023 decision to expand Group of 20 (G20) membership to include the African Union, he said this serves as a “viable model” and boosts realization of the African Continental Free Trade Area as well as the bloc’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s 2030 Agenda. He also called for adequate, flexible, predictable and sustainable financing for African peace operations, which “will serve to promote peace enforcement in the era where peacekeeping is shrinking”. The African Union stands ready to address the continent’s complex, intractable conflicts, and the implementation of resolution 2719 (2023) will be a litmus test for such financing.

He went on to state that the African Union works to promote effective preventive diplomacy, mediation and dialogue. Underlining the importance of such measures, he spotlighted the Praetoria Peace Agreement on Tigray and expressed hope that Sudan will “change course through better mediation for a cessation of hostilities to be effected”. Reforming the global financial architecture is another imperative, as the existing one is “plagued with inequities, gaps and inefficiencies” that must be addressed, he said. Bridging technology gaps and developing innovative financing mechanisms are crucial, and he therefore called for creating a new architecture for global economic governance; addressing the cost of sovereign borrowing; improving access to Special Drawing Rights (SDR); and linking private-sector profitability with sustainable development. He also urged the mainstreaming of women in governance, youth inclusion and child protection.

“It is also fundamental to promote a delicate balance between the classic first-generation political and civil rights and the economic, social and cultural rights premised on the right to peace and, most importantly, the right to development,” he said. This will ensure an Africa where good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice for all and the rule of law thrive. Underscoring that the African Union’s adequate representation and effective participation in international affairs will be a “public good”, he also underlined the need to ensure complementarity between the bloc and the UN through regional economic mechanisms and commissions. “Silencing the Guns remains on our agenda,” he said, also stressing the importance of “zero-tolerance” for all unconstitutional changes of Government as well as continued support for the nexus between peace, security and development.

SÉRGIO FRANÇA DANESE (Brazil), Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission , underscored its commitment to partnering with Africa for sustained peace, by identifying and addressing context-specific root causes of conflict. Investment in sustainable development is crucial to long-term social cohesion and stability, and must take place alongside other peacebuilding initiatives. “There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development,” he stressed, noting Africa’s young population makes this even more important and provides a “wealth of opportunities” for inclusive growth. He commended Africa’s progress to institutionalize regional policies through the African Union and subregional organizations. During their sixth Informal Annual Joint Consultative Meeting in November 2023, the African Union Peace and Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission discussed ways to strengthen their cooperation to support national priorities and the activities of regional organizations, and African Union peacebuilding efforts such as implementation of the African Union Policy on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development. Such support “is essential to ensure that African countries can build a foundation for sustainable peace according to their specific needs and priorities, based on national ownership”, he said.

While underlining that African problems must be solved with African solutions, he said partnerships are fundamental and financial institutions should expand cooperation in peacebuilding and sustaining peace, including in conflict prevention. The Commission hopes to assist by connecting countries needing financial support with international financial institutions and other potential partners. It hopes the implementation of General Assembly resolution 78/257 (2023) will expand the possibilities for supporting initiatives in Africa through the Peacebuilding Fund. He called for coherence and complementarity between peacebuilding, peacekeeping missions and counter-terrorism operations, taking into account the proposals in A New Agenda for Peace . The implementation of Council resolution 2719 (2023) to support African Union-led peace operations with UN-assessed contributions is an opportunity for closer cooperation between the UN and the African Union.

The Commission “stands ready to offer its expertise in laying the groundwork for transitions and durable solutions, including through addressing root causes of conflict, and to engage with African countries on their path to stability and prosperity”, he underscored. He also affirmed the importance of reinforced implementation of the Joint UN-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, the African Union-UN framework for the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The representative of Mozambique , Council President for May, speaking in his national capacity, observed that Africa is a mosaic of peoples, trends, challenges, opportunities and narratives that are deeply connected to internal and global events. However, there are also enormous challenges Africa must face, including a high poverty rate, the rapid Africanization of terrorism, political instability and illiteracy. To overcome these challenges, it is critical for Africa to emerge from its present status and become an important player on the global stage. “When united, our 55 countries form a powerful, unified bloc that serves the interests of the Global South,” he stated, adding that Africa shall continue to advocate for addressing the structural deficiencies of the multilateral system, particularly the reform of the Security Council and international financial institutions. Further, he underlined the importance of representation at multilateral fora, stressing that “visibility should be a means to an end — not a goal in itself”.

The representative of Sierra Leone , citing World Bank statistics, noted that his continent remains the least economically competitive region in the world, with one third of its population characterized as living in extreme poverty below the $2.15-a-day threshold. Calling for adequate support for the African Union Agenda 2063 as well as the Silencing the Guns initiative, he also underscored the need to address the structural imbalance in the Council. “Representational legitimacy is a necessary condition for good institutional performance, particularly when the objects of an institution’s decisions have little say in the decision-making process itself,” he stressed. Also welcoming the African Union’s membership in the Group of Twenty, he said this will afford the continent an opportunity to shape the policies that impact its economic development.

The representative of Guyana said that “peace and security issues cannot be divorced from development issues,” urging the Council to take a holistic approach to peace and security matters in Africa by incorporating a development dimension. Stressing the importance of addressing the historical injustice against Africa in its exclusion from this Council’s permanent membership, she said that correcting this wrong is critical to the full involvement of Africa in the global peace and security regime. She warned of interference by external actors. “We see a familiar storyline across several conflicts in Africa where actors with commercial and other interests in several African countries in conflict situations manipulate those conflicts with the sole aim of preserving those interests,” she said, calling on the Council to take a firm stance against this phenomenon, which can be deemed as “a new form of colonialism”.

The representative of Malta , noting Africa’s young population and diverse culture and geography, said: “Africa is the continent of the future.” She expressed concern, however, over instances of terrorism, violent extremism and unconstitutional changes of Government — particularly in West Africa — which steal civilians’ futures and “squander entire generations”. She then spotlighted the “remarkable work” carried out by several UN peace-support missions and the African Union. In South Sudan, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has strengthened accountability for intercommunal, sexual and gender-based violence. In Somalia, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) has supported alternative dispute-resolution mechanisms, while the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) has supported national forces in combating al-Shabaab. Additionally, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) has strengthened complementarity and coordination between formal and informal justice actors in that country. Against that backdrop, she spotlighted resolution 2719 (2023) and the Council’s support for regional security configurations.

The representative of Switzerland underlined Africa’s potential to help with global challenges, forged in its experience in conflict prevention. She called for peace, sustainable development and human rights to be viewed “through a common lens”. Effective conflict prevention addresses all factors of instability including weak economic prospects, marginalization, weak State presence, resource competition and climate change, and their interaction. For national prevention strategies, countries can draw on: Africa’s rich tradition of conflict resolution and mediation, often rooted locally; how African States have dealt with past crimes, for example, in Sierra Leone and South Africa, to ensure they are not repeated and deliver justice; and, its close regional coordination in instruments such as Agenda 2063. Finding African-led solutions does not mean the international community should absolve itself of responsibility, as solutions are for the common good. She expressed support for the African Union’s work and its improved cooperation with the UN.

The representative of Slovenia observed that — with its strategic position, wealth in natural and human resources, and growing young population — African States are essential partners in the collective efforts to shape a more peaceful and prosperous world for all. Noting that strong national institutions are vital to maintaining resilient societies and contributing to regional stability, she stressed the need to promote transparency, accountability, inclusion, rule of law and respect for human rights. In this regard, she spotlighted Liberia’s recent establishment of the war crimes tribunal to provide justice for victims of civil wars, Kenya’s local peace committee programme preventing inter-tribal violence and Mozambique’s Maputo Accord promoting reconciliation and reintegration. Also, empowering women and youth to participate fully in political and other decision-making processes is crucial to unlocking resilient societies. While the African States have become indispensable partners in the collective pursuit of global peace, security and sustainable development, “there is so much more that can be achieved,” she said.

The representative of Algeria , stressing the need to adequately finance conflict-prevention in Africa, said governance remains “a key tool of structural prevention” as well as a remedy to crises. Reinforcing the cooperation between the UN and regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security is crucial, he said, calling for the implementation of Council resolution 2719 (2023), which provides an opportunity to foster the African Union’s ownership of peace initiatives. Highlighting his country’s contributions, he noted that Algeria has, since 2020, earmarked a $1 billion to the Algerian Agency of International Cooperation for Solidarity and Development. It also cancelled a total amount of debt equalling $900 million for 14 African countries. Calling on the international community to rectify historical injustices, he said it is time to improve the representation of Africa within the Council.

The representative of France said that his country is supporting Africa in addressing peace and security challenges bilaterally and through the European Union, including securing maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea and providing training in Mozambique. He expressed support for expanding both the permanent and non-permanent membership of the Council, to around 25 in total with an enhanced African presence, including in the permanent category. This dynamic should also extend to economic governance. His country organized the Summit for a New Global Financial Compact in June 2023. The resulting Paris Pact for People and Planet, now supported by 54 States, sets out several cardinal principles so that “no country has to choose between the fight against poverty and the fight for the planet”. France has helped to mobilize $16 billion for the Great Green Wall in the Sahel to combat the effects of climate change, desertification, food insecurity and poverty from Senegal to Djibouti. “The effective implementation of the Paris Agreement is a necessity and great urgency, including for peace and security,” he emphasized.

The representative of Japan , noting that the majority of Council discussions are dedicated to Africa, voiced appreciation for the “timely agenda-setting and insights rooted in direct on-the-ground knowledge and experience by our A3 [Algeria, Mozambique and Sierra Leone] colleagues”. But there is room to further enhance the continent’s representation, he said, and as the Chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions, his country is committed to improving the Council’s working methods, including by welcoming stronger African voices. An expanded Council in both permanent and non-permanent categories is absolutely necessary, he said, also underscoring that the 15-member organ must utilize the Peacebuilding Commission as an advisory body to share experiences from Africa. Further, the African Union and the network of subregional organizations and regional economic communities form a pivotal infrastructure for African peace and security, he said.

The representative of the United Kingdom , noting the importance of resolution 2719 (2023), said that the UN and African Union must work together to implement the mechanisms necessary “to make it work in practice”. Also noting the need to “amplify African voices” in international forums, he said that the African Union’s G20 membership was an important step in “ensuring that global governance represents the world of today”. He stressed, however, that “we should go further”, expressing support for permanent African representation in the Council, reformation of the international financial system and a greater role for low-income, vulnerable African States on the boards of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). Further, greater collaboration between the UN and African Union can help address challenges such as the conflicts in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as unconstitutional changes of Government. These weaken the role of States and undermine development, he said, underlining the need to collectively manage transnational threats.

The representative of the Russian Federation underlined the need to increase the predictability, reliability and flexibility of resources for African peacekeeping. He recalled African States’ unequal representation in the international security and financial apparatus, which hampers addressing global problems. Underscoring the link between peace and development, he said international financial institutions and the UN development system “are failing to fulfil their objectives”, principally due to the UN development system’s main donors being interested only in a self-serving agenda, as is felt most keenly in Africa. He gave the example of African States’ debt servicing eclipsing their spending on health and education. Meanwhile, the growth of financial assistance to Ukraine outpaces global developmental assistance. He regretted that “African Governments are expected to ensure peace, security and stability in a context of economic insecurity”. His country continues to develop African countries’ capacity to address problems in security and sociocultural spheres.

The representative of the United States , noting that African Governments, institutions and people play a crucial role in advancing global priorities, supported the adoption of resolution 2719 (2023), which promotes cooperation and responsibility sharing between the African Union and the UN to address peace and security challenges. He also supported the adoption of the General Assembly resolution in December, which approved $50 million for the Peacebuilding Fund. Noting the importance of conflict prevention throughout Africa, he welcomed the UN efforts aimed at fully inclusive conflict prevention and mediation. Sounding alarm over the tragedy unfolding in Sudan — “one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world” — he urged the relevant parties to allow for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. “Development, respect for human rights and the rule of law are equally interconnected in promoting security,” he observed, adding that “democratic governance based on human rights is essential to creating opportunities for all”.

The representative of Ecuador , noting that building peace is a long-term process, said dialogue, human rights and rule of law are crucial ingredients for that. Urging developed countries to meet the commitment of earmarking 0.7 per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to official development assistance (ODA), he said “Africa is an essential protagonist” in international fora. The African Union’s participation in the Group of Twenty exemplifies this, he said, also recalling that he presided over the Council meeting in which resolution 2719 (2023) was approved. That text marks a success in the collaboration between the United Nations and the African Union, he said, stressing the importance of financing Africa Union-led peace operations.

The representative of China said that “no one knows Africa better than African States,” stressing the importance of respecting their leadership in addressing their continent’s problems. He rejected interference in their internal affairs, including applying pressure and sanctions. A cold war mentality will only trigger new confrontations and turmoil in Africa. “Africa should be a big stage for international cooperation, not an arena for great power competition,” he emphasized. The international community should focus on helping African States fully display their strengths, turning their human and resource endowment into real productivity. Due to the impact of their colonial history, they have been at the low end of their global industrial supply and value chains. Electric vehicles, solar products and new energy batteries are rare products. China is willing to share green technologies, products and experiences with Africa. Beijing seeks to push China-Africa cooperation to a new level through an upcoming summit on their partnership.

The representative of the Republic of Korea , noting that his country will soon host the first-ever “Korea-Africa Summit”, recalled that this relationship began in the 1950s when several African nations supported his own during the Korean War. The Summit will forge new strategic cooperation based on “the unique aspects of our partnership and our similar historical experiences”, he said. Seoul also will support African Union peace and security initiatives, and he noted his country’s contribution of $5 million in 2024 along with its provision of funding and armoured personnel carriers to ATMIS. “Taking stock of our own development trajectory,” he said that development is closely linked with peace, security and democracy. For this reason, Seoul has increased its ODA by over 40 per cent in 2024. He added that, similar to how education was “foundational” for his country’s development, investment in that sector will be the “spearhead to empower Africa and its dynamic younger generation”.

PAISAN RUPANICHKIJ, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand , said the African Union has been a leading example of regionalism, strengthening multilateralism and aligning with international law. But he noted the need for Africa’s greater representation in international bodies and financial institutions, along with non-African developing countries, to reinforce multilateralism. He highlighted that most of the Council’s agenda involves situations in developing countries. He said initiatives such as Agenda 2063 and the Silencing the Guns in Africa are exemplary in showing how peace, security and stability and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are mutually reinforcing. His country’s cooperation with African countries has been people-centred. He called for a stronger global-regional interface with closer UN and regional organizations’ coordination, for more effective multilateralism in security and development. He expressed his country’s support for the enhancement of the UN-African Union partnership and international partnerships to aid African subregional organizations.

The representative of Egypt highlighted the UN’s role in Africa, noting his country’s contribution to various UN peacekeeping missions there. Nevertheless, he voiced concern about recent negative trends in relations between some host countries and UN missions, urging for an open, transparent and comprehensive dialogue between the Organization and host countries, considering their priorities. He also emphasized the importance of providing adequate financial resources and policy guidance to peacekeeping missions and updating their mandates in line with developments on the ground and in consultations with troop- and police-contributing countries. Peacebuilding in Africa — “an important pillar that is quite often overlooked” — is an effective tool to ensure that countries do not plunge back into conflict. “This is an investment in the future of peace in Africa, one that yields high return and that should be enhanced and strengthened at all levels,” he observed.

The representative of Austria , noting that Africa is poised for a rapid increase in the working-age population, said it is essential to address the historical injustice suffered by the continent when it comes to representation. Commending the African Union’s inclusion in the G20, he stressed the need for a more networked system of global governance. The Summit of the Future presents an opportunity to promote an action-oriented approach to networked multilateralism, he said, highlighting the proposal put forward by his country and others for an annual conference of the Secretary-General with heads of regional organizations. Stressing the importance of tackling climate change on the continent, he said his country — which is powered by 80 per cent renewable energy — has shared its expertise with African countries to help unleash their potential in solar, hydro, wind and geothermal energy.

The representative of Ukraine expressed concern over grave human rights violations in the Great Lakes Region committed by armed groups. “Regrettably, certain States are contributing to instability on the African continent,” she said, noting that the Russian private-military formations have been implicated in those violations and various illicit activities in some regions. Her country has always been committed to maintaining peace and stability in Africa. As of today, despite the Russian Federation’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, its massive attacks against her country’s infrastructure and its use of starvation as a weapon, Ukraine remains a top exporter of agricultural products and guarantor of world food security. It has provided grain to Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sudan and other countries, and has significantly expanded its diplomatic presence in Africa in the last few months, she added.

The representative of Portugal , aligning herself with the statement to be delivered by the European Union, said: “Africa can count on Portugal as a firm ally and advocate.” She added that she does not bring recommendations to strengthen African States’ role in addressing global challenges — “as that is for the African States to define”. She did, however, urge the reassessment of the impact of IMF charges, as well as increased African representation on the boards of international financial organizations. Africa’s vision for development is “founded on solid pillars”, she said, which includes reducing dependence on raw materials through industrial development, value-added processing and regional integration. This must be supported, namely through the African Continental Free Trade Area, regional economic organizations and the development of local and regional value chains. She also called on the international community to support African partners in combating disinformation and hate speech — “particularly in a year when nearly two dozen African democracies go to the polls”.

The representative of Italy said international support for Africa should address structural challenges and conflicts’ root causes and not just tackle ongoing emergencies. He encouraged the exchange of best practices for youth’s active participation in decision-making processes as it enhances the legitimacy of peace and security initiatives. Combating violent extremism, strengthening regional cooperation and institution-building are key to counter evolving terrorist threats which prevent building a prosperous continent. Civilian-focused counter-terrorism efforts should take place bilaterally and by contributing to the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism’s African regional offices’ activities. He noted Italy’s involvement in the Ad Hoc Working Group on conflict prevention and resolution in Africa. Council resolution 2719 (2023) is a milestone for UN-African Union cooperation in responding to the evolving nature of conflicts in Africa, he said, noting that while some decision-making and financing questions remain to implement it, “solutions are within our reach”. He encouraged other Member States to contribute to African peace operations and support a more structured African participation in multilateral institutions.

The representative of South Africa said that many African States continue to make significant progress in maintaining peace and security and preventing violent conflicts. In recent years — despite some incidents of unconstitutional changes of Governments and protracted armed conflicts in some States — “the holding of regular peaceful elections have become a norm rather than an exception”. Also, the participation of women and youth in peace processes has gained traction, and the fundamental role of civil society is recognized. There is an accelerated focus on addressing socioeconomic development issues, he said, adding that “Africa is more peaceful than it was two decades ago.” Notwithstanding these positive developments, the continent is grappling with the effects of overlapping global crises that include geopolitical tensions, including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, high food and energy prices and rising public debt, resulting in unrest and prolonged conflicts. To effectively deal with global security and development challenges, he stressed that both external and internal root causes and drivers of instability must be addressed.

The representative of Türkiye , stressing that tackling root causes is crucial to finding long-lasting solutions, commended the strengthened partnership between the United Nations and the African Union. Also voicing support for greater representation for African countries in the international governance system, he added that his country is a strategic partner to the African Union, and this holistic and inclusive partnership takes many forms, from humanitarian assistance to capacity-building projects. Türkiye hosts and supports the United Nations Technology Bank, he noted, also highlighting the Black Sea Initiative, which has been instrumental in addressing food insecurity in the continent.

The representative of Rwanda said that by consistently and continuously demonstrating regional ownership and cooperation in addressing complex security issues, Africa can serve as a model for other regions seeking to establish effective security architectures. He also stressed the need to support the electoral process in African States, as 37 per cent of them will elect their leaders in 2024 and it is vital to “support each other’s democratization”. The peacekeeping mandate was birthed to resolve inter-State conflicts, as opposed to intra-State conflicts, civil wars and genocides. Africa knows the intricacies of successful global security and development efforts. As the world has evolved, so have security challenges, placing Africa “at a vantage point in being greatly equipped to use the historical lessons and collective wisdom of our vastly diverse nations in order to build peace for all”, he said.

The representative of Brazil affirmed that “African countries know their challenges better than anyone else” — and the international community must be ready, on their demand, to forge partnerships to enhance their ability to solve their problems. Calling for allotting two permanent seats to Africa in an expanded Security Council, he cited one positive recent development: the admission of the African Union as a new member of the G20. As G20 President for 2024, Brazil has been working hard to ease the bloc’s integration into all the group’s work streams; and as Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission in 2024, his country is particularly pleased that the organizational committee has approved its proposal for granting a standing invitation to the African Union to participate in its meetings. He stressed that a global economic, financial and trade architecture is needed for developing countries to fulfil their potential, and for attaining the goals of the African Union Agenda 2063.

HEDDA SAMSON, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union , cited multi-level partnerships between the bloc and Africa, including at the national level in Mozambique, involving strategies in the fields of education, digitalization, climate resilience and nutrition and preparations for a European Union Electoral Observation Mission to accompany the upcoming elections. Noting that “Africa has a young and vibrant population” full of potential for rapid and economic growth, she recalled that in 2075, one in three working age youth population will be African. “These generations need to be fully empowered and included, to be able to realize their best potential,” she said. Turning more broadly to the Sahel, she recalled that the bloc supports the Great Green Wall with over €700 million. In close partnership with 18 partner countries, it is strengthening sustainable land management in a region that is disproportionately facing the consequences of climate change. This African initiative will restore 100 million hectares of degraded land and create 10 million jobs, she said.

The bloc also works closely with the African Union to promote State-building and good governance, including implementing the African Governance Architecture, and providing financial support to its transitional justice policy, she said. In the Sahel, it has supported the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Stabilization Facility for the Lake Chad Basin, which helps Governments and communities implement long-term peacebuilding, recovery and development programmes. “African countries can play a crucial role in global peace efforts,” she said, citing their leading role in the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti. The European Union has been the African Union’s number one partner on peace and security issues in terms of financial and technical support, creating the Africa Peace Facility in 2003, and allocating over €1 billion to African partners under the European Peace Facility since 2021. Warning that funding for peacebuilding has collapsed, she voiced support for the Secretary-General’s call to develop national prevention strategies on a voluntary basis and with UN support.

The representative of Denmark , also speaking for Finland , Iceland , Norway and Sweden , recalled that her country hosted delegations from 32 States and the African Union earlier in May to discuss ways to form lasting and enduring partnerships. During those discussions, ministers spoke of the changing global peace-and-security landscape, “where new and interlocking threats have emerged and where conflict dynamics are growing ever more complex”. Ministers also agreed that “much can be done to remedy those challenges”, she reported, urging a reflection on the future of UN peace operations. Troop- and police-contributing countries — including many African States, as well as host nations — “have a particularly important role in these deliberations”, she said. Also underlining the importance of peacebuilding for achieving sustainable peace and development, she called for strengthening the Peacebuilding Commission’s advisory, convening and bridging roles.

“There is an undeniable need for the United Nations to step up its cooperation with regional organizations,” she went on to say — particularly the African Union. Commending the leadership shown by that bloc and its subregional organizations as “first responders” in the region, she urged that this continue with UN support. The recent adoption of resolution 2719 (2023) is a welcome step in this direction; now, it must be implemented swiftly and effectively. She also called for reform of both the international financial architecture and the Council, underscoring: “African States have a far more important role to play than is currently possible due to the underrepresentation we observe today.” Redressing this historical injustice must therefore be a priority, and she expressed hope that today’s debate will highlight African States’ increasing importance in today’s global political landscape.

The representative of Spain commended the African Union’s entry into the G20, as a means to address global challenges and as an acknowledgement of Africa’s importance. He underscored that a more representative Council would make it more effective and said that there should be reforms making it more democratic, with periodic elections renewing its legitimacy, accountability and the principle of rotation. He called for an increase in the number of elected members to the Council and proposed a significant increase in the number of seats for African States. He encouraged the African Union and the UN to finalize the joint planning guidelines and the further implementation of Council resolution 2719 (2023), to strengthen regional and subregional organization’s roles. Predictable financing would benefit and increase the operational effectiveness of peacekeeping on the continent, he added.

The representative of Morocco accented that strengthening the role of the African State is multidimensional, including by exercising its political sovereignty over its entire territory, protecting its borders and strengthening its democratic process towards the rule of law. He further cited the importance of taking ownership of regulating the market economy and promoting public investment in infrastructure and human capital. The African State cannot fulfil its role without the commitment and collaboration of other international actors to provide support and support via international cooperation, reducing the burden of their external debt, and facilitating access to financing and international markets, capacity-building programmes and technology transfer. He recalled that Morocco is the second major African investor within the continent, with financial mobilization encouraging the creation of wealth and jobs in several African countries. At the same time, Morocco is among the leading international contributors to maintaining peace on the continent and has been since the 1960s.

The representative of Germany , associating herself with the European Union, said that bloc’s experience proves that mutual trust and close regional cooperation are key to peaceful societies. African countries chose the path of regional cooperation by creating the African Union, she said, also commending subregional initiatives such as the Regional Stabilization Facility for the Lake Chad region, which could serve as a model elsewhere. Welcoming the African Climate Security Risk Assessment developed by the African Union and partners, she noted the steps taken towards a common African position on climate, peace and security. The European Union has been helping to strengthen regional cooperation in this field through projects such as the UN Climate Security Mechanism in the Sahel, she said, also highlighting the strong African ownership for that initiative.

The representative of Ghana said that most African States are being weakened due to the uneven distribution of the benefits of an international system designed to deliver more for the few and powerful. Despite a combined value exceeding $3.5 trillion, Africa’s economy works for the richer world rather than its more than 1.4 billion people. “The international governance system for financing, trade, development as well as peace and security needs a reset to reflect the world of today and not that of 1945,” he said. In that regard, the financial architecture needs urgent reform to ensure that international financial institutions benefit all, especially countries most in need. Trade and development arrangements must be undertaken on much fairer terms and in the spirit of solidarity, he insisted.

The representative of Viet Nam stressed that Africa — as a victim of numerous historical injustices — has faced a disproportionate share of security and development challenges. The continent is underrepresented in the current global governance and at the UN, he observed, calling for a comprehensive reform of the Security Council. “African States must occupy more seats at the enlarged Council […] so that [their] voice can be duly heard, particularly on issues related to their own region,” he said. Noting that Africa contributes significantly to peacekeeping operations, supplying over 70 per cent of the UN peacekeepers while hosting five peacekeeping missions and eight special political missions, he spotlighted recent issues with numerous UN peacekeeping missions concerning host Governments and communities. “More needs to be done,” he stated, urging for a comprehensive review of the existing missions in Africa while respecting the host countries’ sovereignty.

The representative of Qatar said that his country is proud of its strategic partnerships with several African States, also spotlighting Doha’s mediation efforts in Sudan, Chad and Somalia, as well in the context of “the border conflict between Djibouti and Eritrea”. In the humanitarian and development sphere, he also recalled that Qatar announced a pledge of $12 million in humanitarian aid in September 2023 to combat famine and food insecurity in Africa. Further, Qatar has financed the second phase of a project to “build resilient societies” in Somalia in cooperation with the United Kingdom and United States. He also reported that his country maintains investment partnerships with several African countries in sectors including renewable energy, agriculture and infrastructure. Further, Qatar sent a delegation to a high-level meeting on strengthening regional cooperation to combat the threat of terrorism in Africa, held in Abuja in April.

The representative of Kenya said that, despite myriad obstacles, the African State is “contributing in significant ways” to address global security and development challenges. The Council can strengthen the African State’s role by listening to the perspectives of the continent’s three plus representatives more and integrating their regional insights into its decision-making processes; embracing Africa’s peace and security architecture as a fundamental tool for peace and security; and, demonstrating this by implementing resolution 2719 (2023) and scaling up UN funding for African Union-led peace operations to 100 per cent in the near future. The international community should increase cooperation between the Peacebuilding Commission and the African Union Peace and Security Council, provide equitable representation of Africa in global peace, security and financial architecture, invest in Africa’s sustainable development, support its digital transformation and address the debt burden. Developed countries must honour their climate commitments, especially finance, he noted.

The representative of the Czech Republic noted that “many African States are justifiably proud of their economic growth, technological advancement and improved living conditions of their inhabitants”. With the world’s youngest population and a wealth of resources and diversity, the continent is poised to become an important driver of global peace and prosperity. However, Africa faces distinct pressures, with militant and terrorist groups challenging the sovereignty of States and tragically claiming many innocent lives. Further, the continent’s rich natural resources including oil, minerals and agricultural land draw the attention of malicious powers that seek to cynically exploit governance gaps for their own gain. “Countering these attempts alone is not easy,” he stated, voicing support for all efforts to strengthen State institutions and reduce vulnerabilities to foreign interference — while recognizing efforts of many by African countries to effectively take on harmful external influences by prioritizing governance reforms and improving transparency, accountability and the rule of law.

The representative of Nigeria said that to address Africa’s multidimensional challenges, it is imperative to take concrete and transformative actions, including “an overhaul of the Council’s architecture”. She underlined the need to identify quick-yielding revenue sources for economic recovery, noting that extractable resources can generate financial returns and employment. Any resource management approach should address poverty and promote the sustainability of resources for present and future generations. “The continued exploitation of resources has been a significant contributing factor to conflicts in the region,” she said, noting its environmental impact. Concurrently, “a sudden rise in illegal exploitation and plundering of resources in Africa” is a source of funding for terrorist and criminal activities. Against this backdrop, she emphasized that the Council should focus on this issue as one of the root causes of conflicts, including criminalizing illegal exploitation as a crime against humanity.

The representative of Poland , recognizing the centrality of economic relations, voiced support for African countries regarding their equal treatment in trade relations with the rest of the world. Citing Polish initiatives such as the GO Africa programme, he recalled that the country works to draw international attention to critical issues like global food security, resilience-building, and reducing inequalities, particularly in education and health care. This commitment is further reflected by Poland’s membership in the Peacebuilding Commission. “Rather than reinventing the wheel and creating new frameworks to promote stability and strengthen African States, we should focus on bolstering the existing mechanisms and more effectively support African institutions and organizations,” he stated. He called for reinvigorated support to the African Union and regional economic communities within such frameworks as Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area, Silencing the Guns and many others.

The representative of Australia , stressing the importance of regionally led approaches, said Africa’s regional and subregional actors are best placed to understand and respond to its challenges. His country’s faith in regional approaches is rooted in its own experience in the Pacific, where it has aligned its regional priorities with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. Highlighting the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as the best blueprint for the continent’s collective prosperity and security, he expressed support for financing African Union-led peace operations. It is crucial to address Africa’s multidimensional security challenges and find durable solutions to climate-induced displacement, he said, adding: “We need to listen to and learn from the experiences of African States.”

The representative of Pakistan , noting Africa’s fertile lands, plentiful resources and industrious people, recalled its colonization, enslavement and division into “European fiefdoms”. Following its independence in 1947, Pakistan actively participated in the liberation of African nations, and he noted that “many of our African brothers were enabled to travel on Pakistani passports to promote their national freedom struggles”. Stressing that “Africa is on the rise”, he urged “new” peace operations with broader and more robust mandates, adequate resources and advanced equipment. Pakistan, for its part, will contribute actively to these objectives, including as a Council member if it is elected on 6 June. “Eons ago, the South Asian subcontinent was sundered from Africa by a colossal tectonic event,” he added; yet, Pakistan now works to embrace African States through trade, investment and security cooperation. As connectivity grows, he observed, Pakistan will bridge Asia and Africa to bring them closer together — “a befitting reversion to our pre-historic geography”.

The representative of Liberia said it is glaringly evident that African nations are often on the frontline of emerging security threats. “Strengthening these States is not merely an act of assistance but a strategic imperative for global stability,” she added. She underscored that a paucity of sustainable and predictable funding holds back African States’ contribution to global peace and security. Such funding would enable consistent training, proper equipment, and the development of robust institutions. It would empower regional organizations to be proactive rather than only reactive and allow them to engage in preventive diplomacy and mediation. It would help to not only maintain peace and security but also build resilient communities. She hailed the Council’s adoption of resolution 2719 (2023). She called for reform of global governance and financial institutions, a commitment to a just climate change agenda, and Africa’s social and economic inclusion.

The representative of the Netherlands , aligning himself with the European Union, said that protracted armed conflicts, military coups and the effects of climate change are taking their toll on the continent’s stability. They are contributing to increased poverty, displacement and fragility in many parts of the world, disproportionately affecting Africa. Voicing concern about the devastating conflict in Sudan and developments in other regions — including the Sahel and Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo — he said an integrated approach, combining economic, development and security cooperation, is needed to address the root causes of conflict and instability. Also, investments and partnerships are essential to effectively tackling existing multifaceted challenges, he observed, noting that increased investments in the African countryside could be essential for stabilization and conflict prevention. They can contribute to improved food production, poverty reduction, resilience against climate change and growing domestic markets.

The representative of Latvia emphasized the major contribution of African countries to peacekeeping — calling for missions to ensure they have clear goals and exit strategies and are trusted by the local population. She noted that missions and peacekeepers are increasingly targeted by misinformation campaigns, used as a weapon of influence to fuel conflicts. “To ensure peace, we must address climate change as a security imperative,” she emphasized, as intensified droughts and floods and limited access to vital resources act as a threat multiplier. Further, women and youth — “particularly in Africa, a young continent” — are crucial to building overall resilience. In addition, financing for development and international financial architecture reform are essential to address development and mobilize the private sector. To that end, Latvia is expanding its partnerships with African countries by offering technology and women empowerment-related projects in South Africa, Cameroon, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The representative of Belgium , commending the role of African “Blue Helmets” worldwide, highlighted the potential offered by Council resolution 2719 (2023). Drawing attention to his country’s support for capacity-building in Africa, he noted the trainings offered by the Belgian Egmont Institute for International Relations to civil servants from 20 African countries. Further, African student visas represent one third of student visas to Belgium, he said, expressing support for African States’ policies aimed at claiming back fiscal space or embarking on a green transition. Belgium and Mozambique have entered an innovative $2.6 million debt-for-climate swap to relieve Mozambique’s debt burden while investing in its climate resilience. Also outlining security partnerships, he said “we only intervene when we are asked to.” This year Belgium and Benin are marking 25 years of a military partnership, he said.

The representative of Saudi Arabia , emphasizing that “African affairs are of great interest” to his country, detailed national policy to establish peace and security, promote development and eradicate poverty in Africa. It works to establish “relations that serve African countries”, he said, noting that Saudi Arabia — for 50 years — has provided development support worth more than $45 billion “in many vital sectors” that has benefited 46 African States. Detailing additional financial support to Africa, including through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, he said that his country will continue to promote investment, development and trade. He also recalled that Saudi Arabia was among the first to support the African Union’s accession to the G20 and that — as its President in 2020 — his country worked on debt service suspension and debt restructuring for many African countries. Further, he detailed his country’s mediation support for Sudan, hosting parties to the conflict in Jeddah “in many rounds”.

The representative of India reaffirmed that its partnership with Africa remains a top priority and the need for “basic human development and economic opportunities” to achieve peace. Development financing is key and can be facilitated by genuine partnerships. She called for a larger African role, including permanent African membership in the Council, the denial of which is a blot on its credibility. “Those who are responsible […] by perpetuating a historical injustice must be called out,” she said. The Council must give the spreading of terrorist groups in Africa priority attention. She added that sustainable peace and security “is possible only if external forces do not intervene for vested interests”, which calls for a stronger African role at multilateral organizations so they can argue their own case. This conviction drove India to successfully campaign for admitting the African Union into the G20 in 2023.

The observer for the Holy See said that the African continent is beset by many challenges, including conflicts, terrorism, the impact of climate change, and the ongoing struggle for economic development and poverty eradication. On strengthening the role of African States, he underscored the need to acknowledge their significant progress in enhancing collaboration to address some of the continent’s most pressing challenges. In this context, he spotlighted the Silencing the Guns initiative for 2030, which could be instrumental in halting the spread of violence through the illicit trade of arms by terrorist and armed groups. Further, he warned against “the imperious ambition of certain countries to exploit the natural resources and peoples of the African continent”, adding that “a new wave of colonialism is currently being witnessed, which does not respect the inherent human dignity of all, undermines the common good and threatens efforts to eradicate poverty”.

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Israel’s war on Gaza updates: ‘More than 30’ killed in Rafah strike

The Israeli army bombed a displacement camp in south Gaza, the Gaza Civil Defence said, killing and wounding dozens.

Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, on May 25

This live page is now closed. You can continue to follow our coverage of the war in Gaza here .

The Israeli army bombed a displacement camp in northern Rafah, killing at least 35 Palestinians, the Gaza Health Ministry says.
The Hamas military wing launches a missile attack on Tel Aviv, triggering alarm sirens. Earlier, the Qassam Brigades said its fighters “killed and captured” an unidentified number of Israeli soldiers in Jabalia camp. The Israeli military has denied the claim.
This comes as Israel has intensified attacks across Gaza, killing more than 80 Palestinians in the past 24 hours.
At least 35,984 Palestinians have been killed and up to 80,643 people have been wounded in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from Hamas’s attack on that date stands at 1,139, with dozens still held captive.

First priority is ceasefire in Gaza: Palestine PM

Achieving a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible should be the first priority, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa has told European stakeholders.

“Every day represents a major loss of human lives and properties and hope for our people, so we want to see a ceasefire taking place very quickly,” he said.

Mustafa says the organisation wants to be prepared as a government to assist Palestinians after the war and rebuild PA institutions in Gaza and reintegrate them with those in the occupied West Bank.

Ahead of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers, the new prime minister is in Brussels pitching reforms and offering a plan for the future of Gaza.

The first priority is to support our people in #Gaza , they need every support we can; and I think the best support we can all do for them is to speed up the ceasefire. #Palestine pic.twitter.com/rwlsHGkr65 — PM of Palestine (@PalestinePMO) May 27, 2024

UNRWA says Rafah attack shows Gaza is ‘hell on earth’

The UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees says it is horrified as it follows information coming out of Rafah about the Israeli attacks on tents belonging to displaced Palestinians.

There are reports of mass casualties, “including children and women among those killed”, it said in a post on X. “Gaza is hell on earth. Images from last night are yet another testament to that.”

UNRWA added that it has lost contact with its staff on the ground and is concerned about their safety, along with those of civilians in the area.

Information coming out of #Rafah about further attacks on families seeking shelter is horrifying. There are reports of mass causalities including children and women among those killed. Gaza is hell on earth. Images from last night are yet another testament to that. — UNRWA (@UNRWA) May 27, 2024

Hezbollah claims drone attack on Israeli base

The armed Lebanese group says in a statement that its forces used different munitions to hit the al-Malikiyah site used by Israeli forces during border fighting.

Rockets and artillery shells were used and a drone dropped explosives with precision, Hezbollah claimed.

This was their third attack on Monday, with others targeting positions in northern Israel using artillery shells.

The group claimed 15 attacks on Israeli positions on Sunday, including strikes using rockets and antitank guided missiles. It also confirmed multiple fighters were killed.

Here’s what happened today

We will be closing this live page soon. Here is a recap of today’s events:

The Ministry of Health in Gaza says at least 35 Palestinians were killed and dozens more were injured as a result of Israeli air attacks on a camp in Rafah for displaced people
Women and children are amongst those killed, the ministry said.
At least 12 people have been killed after Israeli forces attacked a home in the Jabalia al-Nazlh area in northern Gaza.
The Israeli army has said eight rockets were launched from the Rafah area in southern Gaza at central Israel.
A “strong” Palestinian Authority is needed to bring peace in the Middle East, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says.
At least one civilian was killed and another injured in the Israeli drone attack, which hit a motorcycle in southern Lebanon’s Aita al-Shaab, according to Lebanon’s NNA news agency.

Israel ‘cannot exist without… Palestinian state’: Saudi Arabia

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin-Farhan has said after meetings with Arab and European counterparts in Brussels that it is very concerning that Israel does not recognise that the security it seeks comes through a two-state solution.

“It is absolutely necessary that Israel accepts that it cannot exist without the existence of a Palestinian state,” the top Saudi diplomat told reporters.

“That its security is served by building a Palestinian state. So we hope sincerely that the leaders of Israel will realise that it is in their interest to work with the international community, not just to strengthen the Palestinian Authority but to establish a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders.”

#Brussels | Foreign Minister HH Prince @FaisalbinFarhan : it is absolutely necessary that Israel accepts that it cannot exist without the existence of a Palestinian State. pic.twitter.com/F8IDDqGGg2 — Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) May 26, 2024

Rashida Tlaib blasts Biden, Netanyahu in pro-Palestine conference speech

The US congresswoman has delivered her harshest rebuke yet of the administration of President Joe Biden during a speech at a Detroit pro-Palestine conference.

“Attacking the authority of the International Criminal Court and interfering in legal processes is nothing more than an attempt to prevent the genocidal maniac Netanyahu and his senior Israeli officials for being held accountable for crimes against humanity.”

“You are an enabler, President Biden,” Tlaib said to applause.

The first Palestinian-American woman to serve in Congress added that the US position that no genocide is taking place in Gaza amounts to “shielding murderous criminal Netanyahu and the Israeli government”.

U.S. Representative Rashida Tlaib at People’s Conference for Palestine: By Attacking the Authority of the ICC, President Biden Is Enabling, Shielding Genocidal Maniac Netanyahu and Senior Israeli Officials pic.twitter.com/LmBKsUDpja — MEMRI (@MEMRIReports) May 26, 2024

WATCH: Children in Gaza’s al-Mawasi makeshift classrooms find hope and learning amid war

About 620,000 children in Gaza have been out of school for nearly eight months.

In al-Mawasi, a narrow, barren strip of land designated an evacuation zone by the Israeli army, tents are being used as makeshift classrooms.

Watch our video report below.

EU expresses ‘deep concern’ over state of Palestinian Authority

Palestinian Authority representatives were told during a meeting hosted by Norway and the EU that European donors have “deep concern over the deteriorating situation” of the organisation.

According to Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, they also expressed support “for strengthening the government of Palestine”.

In a separate meeting on Israel’s war on Gaza, an event also co-hosted by Norway in Brussels, top diplomats from Qatar and Saudi Arabia sat down with EU foreign ministers and representatives.

According to the Qatari Foreign Ministry, it was a follow-up to a similar meeting hosted by Saudi Arabia in Riyadh in April, which also focused on ways of moving towards a two-state solution.

Together w/ EU High Rep @JosepBorrellF , I hosted today’s partner meeting, where PM Mustafa presented his plans for strengthening the government of Palestine. The donors expressed deep concern over the deteriorating situation of the Palestine Authority and reaffirmed our support. pic.twitter.com/vqclafCWt2 — Espen Barth Eide (@EspenBarthEide) May 26, 2024

Israeli forces bomb home in central Gaza

Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting of injuries following an Israeli raid that hit the home of the al-Helu family, east of the Salah Shehadeh Mosque in Camp 1 in Nuseirat.

We will bring you more information as it becomes available.

‘All red lines have ceased to exist’

Responding to the attack at the tent camp in Rafah, Palestinian writer and activist Kaleem Hawa said it was clear “there is no red line for Israel and the United States”.

“They have the ability to attack the civilian population indiscriminately to create mass graves, … to put 2 million people under siege,” he told Al Jazeera from Detroit, US, where a pro-Palestine conference is ongoing.

“All red lines have ceased to exist. And only the resistance of the Palestinian people on the ground and our struggle here in the imperial core will help bring about an end to this ongoing genocide and campaign of extermination.”

‘Rise up and march’ against Israeli ‘massacre’ in Rafah: Hamas

“In light of the horrific Zionist massacre this evening committed by the criminal occupation army against the tents of the displaced… we call on the masses of our people in the West Bank, Jerusalem, the occupied territories, and abroad to rise up and march angrily against the ongoing Zionist massacre against our people in the sector,” the armed group said in a statement.

Earlier, the Israeli army bombed a displacement camp in northwest Rafah, killing at least 35 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Health system ‘incapable’ of dealing with situation in Rafah: Red Cross

A spokesman for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza has spoken to Al Jazeera about the attack on the displacement camp in Rafah.

Here is a summary of their comments:

There is a need to follow the basic rules of international humanitarian law.
The healthcare system in Gaza is incapable of dealing with the situation in Rafah.
The number of victims from the bombing of the displacement camp and raids in Rafah is likely to rise.

‘They burned people alive’

Survivors of the Israeli attack on the displacement camp in Rafah have spoken to Al Jazeera.

“I was walking and looking at my phone when the area was struck,” one survivor said.

“I did not realise what had happened. I had no idea what had become my family. My mother was with me and my brother was injured at the camp. I fell to the ground and saw that my leg had been split open.”

Another survivor said the air raid “burned an entire block”.

“They burned people alive,” he said.

Israeli military says acted according to international law in attacks on Rafah displaced

The Israeli military has said in a short statement that its attacks on Rafah, which have left at least 35 people dead, mostly women and children, targeted a “compound of the terrorist organisation Hamas in Rafah, where key terrorists of the organisation were staying”.

It said the attacks were conducted “in accordance with international law, using precise munitions, and based on preliminary intelligence indicating the use of the area by Hamas terrorists”.

The Israeli military added that it is aware of “claims” of a fire breaking out in the area housing UN shelters, which led to “a number of non-involved people” getting injured.

Israel continues its strikes on Rafah, the city that the International Court of Justice recently ordered it to cease attacking.

قائد فريق الإعداد بالدفاع المدني: الاحتلال يريد إيصال رسالة بأن كل غزة مستهدفة #حرب_غزة pic.twitter.com/Pppg1r7NrV — الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) May 26, 2024

Israel committing genocide in Gaza: Human Rights Watch founder

Aryeh Neier, a long-standing Jewish human rights activist whose family fled from Nazi Germany to the United States in 1939 when he was two years old, says he has been convinced that the Israeli military is committing “genocide” in Gaza.

“Over a period of time, Israel has obstructed the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza and those who have been most severely victimised are not members of Hamas,” the co-founder of Human Rights Watch told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria in an interview.

Neier said men with guns often find a way to get fed, while it is vulnerable children who are severely malnourished across the enclave.

“I thought that severe obstruction in the delivery of humanitarian assistance amounted to genocide.”

The humanitarian activist added that the amount of food, water, medicine and fuel that the Israeli military has allowed into Gaza since the start of the war has been “entirely inadequate”, also pointing out that the World Food Programme has said famine is under way in the Palestinian territory.

Is Israel committing humanitarian crimes in Gaza? The Israeli gov’t strenuously denies it. Aryeh Neier, a giant in the world of human rights who escaped Nazi Germany and later cofounder Human Rights Watch, says the answer is yes. Our conversation from today’s GPS: pic.twitter.com/dQC20WDywO — Fareed Zakaria (@FareedZakaria) May 26, 2024

Israel confirms attacking Rafah area

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation said the Israeli army has confirmed launching an attack on the Tal as-Sultan area in the southern Gaza city.

The details of this attack are under investigation.

Rafah attack death toll climbs to 35

The Ministry of Health in Gaza says in a statement that at least 35 Palestinians were killed and dozens more were injured as a result of the air attacks on Rafah.

Most of the victims were displaced women and children who were targeted with “mass killing tools”, while already being deprived of water, food, medicine, electricity and fuel, according to the ministry.

Gaza office: Israel targeting displaced shelters with 2,000-pound bombs

The Government Media Office in Gaza says in a statement that the Israeli military has targeted at least 10 displacement centres affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine (UNRWA) in the past 24 hours.

It says shelters housing tens of thousands of Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been hit in Jabalia, Nuseirat, Gaza City and Rafah. With the latest strikes on Rafah, the death toll of the attacks stands at over 190, according to the office.

It added that a recent attack on Rafah was carried out using seven 2,000-pound (one-tonne) bombs, which killed at least 30, with the fatalities expected to rise due to the severity of the air strikes.

The office regarded the attacks as a “clear message” from Israel and the United States government to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the global community that “the massacres against displaced persons and children will continue, and that breaking international law will not stop”.

Israeli military claims it attacks Rafah ‘rocket launch site’

The Israeli military has released aerial footage that it says shows an air strike on the site in Gaza’s Rafah from which Hamas had fired missiles at Tel Aviv earlier today.

It claimed that the launcher, which had fired eight projectiles at central Israel in a sort of attack not seen in months, was located near two mosques.

The Qassam Brigades of Hamas released a video of the missile barrage.

"كـ.ـتائب القـ.ـسام" تقصف تل أبيب برشقة صاروخية #حرب_غزة #فيديو pic.twitter.com/TDFsfAmbga — الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) May 26, 2024

Translation: Qassam Brigades bombards Tel Aviv with a missile barrage.

Hamas, PIJ condemn Rafah ‘massacre’, US role in Gaza killings

The two Palestinian groups fighting against Israeli forces in Gaza say in separate statements that the mass killing of displaced civilians in western Rafah is especially “heinous” since the Israeli military had declared the area a safe zone.

“We hold the American administration and President Biden in particular fully responsible for this massacre,” said Hamas, adding that the air strikes come “in complete defiance and disregard for” the orders of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to halt Rafah military operations.

The statement by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) said the attacks on Rafah show “the depths of the military failure” that Israel is trying to compensate in blood.

“The continuation of the enemy’s crimes in the Gaza Strip is a result of the cover provided by the US administration, the positions of some European governments, and the weak stances of Arab regimes,” it said.

الاحتلال الإسرائيلي يرتكب مجزرة مروعة بحق النازحين شمال غربي رفح جنوبي قطاع غزة #حرب_غزة #فيديو pic.twitter.com/18qnCiZLpx — الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) May 26, 2024

Translation: The Israeli occupation commits a horrific massacre against the displaced people northwest of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.

Spain, Turkey foreign ministers discuss Palestinian recognition move

Jose Manuel Albares and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan have met in Brussels.

“We have reviewed our bilateral relations and talked about Spain’s decision to recognise the State of Palestine next Tuesday,” he said in a post on X.

“We agree on the need to join forces for peace.”

Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, declared this week it would recognise a Palestinian state on May 28. Israel said this amounted to a “reward for terrorism” and recalled its ambassadors from the three capitals.

Encuentro en Bruselas con mi homólogo de Turquía, @HakanFidan . Hemos repasados nuestras relaciones bilaterales y hablado sobre la decisión de España de reconocer el Estado de Palestina el próximo martes. Coincidimos en la necesidad de aunar esfuerzos por la paz. pic.twitter.com/p9W3qz54N3 — José Manuel Albares (@jmalbares) May 26, 2024

More on attack on displacement camp in Rafah

We now have more information for you on the Israeli raid in the southern Gaza city.

The Civil Defence crew in Gaza has told Al Jazeera that at least 30 people have been killed and dozens more wounded as a result of the attack.

Injuries include amputations and severe burns, the group said. Children were among the victims, it added.

Palestinian Authority should be at ‘centre’ of efforts in Gaza: UN official

Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland says there is a need to “stabilise” the Palestinian Authority.

“I put forward that a political framework is needed to ensure that the PA is at the center of our collective efforts in Gaza and as a path to a two state solution,” he added in a post on X.

He also appealed for a ceasefire and the release of all captives held in Gaza.

2/ In addition to reiterating the SG’s urgent appeal for the release of all hostages and a ceasefire, I call for all concerned to work toward these objectives and not against. All alternatives simply lead us into the abyss. — Tor Wennesland (@TWennesland) May 26, 2024

More raids on Rafah neighbourhoods after attack on displacement camp

Our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic are reporting that Israeli forces have launched three more air raids on residential neighbourhoods in southern Gaza city.

The latest series of attacks comes just days after a World Court ruling ordered Israel to halt its offensive on Rafah, citing “immense risk” to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians taking shelter there.

Israel bombed Rafah over 60 times in 48 hours after ICJ orders

The Israeli military carried out more than 60 air raids on Rafah in the 48 hours after the World Court ordered it on Friday to halt military operations in the southern Gaza city, according to a rights monitor.

Amid an Israeli ground invasion of the area, dozens of artillery shells and constant gunfire were also directed toward Palestinians in Rafah in that period, according to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor.

“Thirteen Palestinians were killed in the 48 hours following the Court’s ruling, including six members of the Qishta family, an elderly mother and three of her children – two girls and one boy – and an adult son and his two children,” the Geneva-based organisation said.

They were reportedly killed on Saturday in Khirbet al-Adas, an area north of Rafah that was not included in the Israeli evacuation orders.

Gaza: After ICJ order to halt attacks on Rafah, Israel launches over 60 air raids on the city in 48 hours https://t.co/aafYhM3FTX — Euro-Med Monitor (@EuroMedHR) May 26, 2024

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Peace, justice and strong institutions
Peace, justice and strong institutions Martin 2023-10-20T16:19:28-04:00. Goal 16 is about promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and building effective ...
Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Compassion and a strong moral compass is essential to every democratic society.Yet, persecution, injustice and abuse still runs rampant and is tearing at the very fabric of civilization. We must ensure that we have strong institutions, global standards of justice, and a commitment to peace everywhere. Resources. Take action.
UNSDG
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions May 2017 | Action 2030 Blog In DRC, building bridges between peacekeeping and development ... In his first major speech of the year, the UN Secretary-General underlined the need for global cooperation to address today's challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Promote Peaceful and ...
Speech: Accelerating implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. What we do. Climate action; Nature action; ... Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Promote Peaceful and Inclusive Societies for Sustainable Development, Provide Access to Justice for All, and Build Effective, Accountable, and Inclusive Institutions at All Levels ...
PDF Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions:
institutions and limited access to justice remain threats to sustainable development. In 2019, the number of people ... PEACE, JUSTICE, AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS: WHY THEY MATTER
GOAL 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
On SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
On SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. New UN peacekeeping base offers Yei community a path to peace and prosperity. Photo: UNMISS / Eric Kanalstein, Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 2.0. When the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted, Goal 16 was seen as truly transformative ...
Action Platform for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
In conclusion, let me take this opportunity to congratulate UN Global Compact on this event and the launch of the action platforms. UNDP is fully committed to work more closely with private sector partners to propel progress on Goal 16 and support the Action Platform for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
PDF Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Why They Matter
provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Why? In 2015, record levels of refugees, migrants and forcibly displaced people moved ...
PDF SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
plan for the improvement of the justice system called "Justice 2020", which aims to serve as a tool for achieving SDG 16 "through building strong and reliable institutions that guarantee peace and access to justice for all" (A/HRC/39/45/Add.1). Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus
Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Goal 16 aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Peace, stability, human rights and effective governance, based on the rule of law, are central to the realization of child rights, and a prerequisite for sustainable development. […]
Sustainable Development Goal 16
The Sustainable Development Goals are a collection of 17 global goals set by the United Nations. The goals are interrelated though each has its own targets to achieve. The SDGs cover a broad range of social and economic development issues. [4] SDG 16 addresses the need to promote peace and inclusive institutions.
SDGs Explained: #16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
At Griffith University we recognise the critical role that universities play in achieving the sustainable development goals in line with Griffith's objective...
SDG 16 Peace and Justice, Strong Institutions
Strong and fair justice systems and institutions support a stable and peaceful way of life. Everyone should be able to use the systems in place to hold leaders to account. There are human rights related to peace and justice, for example: Right to access to justice and due process. Right to legal personality.
The Sustainable Development Goals Explained: Peace, Justice and Strong
United Nations - Patrick Keuleers, UNDP's Chief of Profession in Governance and Peacebuilding, talks about what makes a society peaceful, just and inclusive,...
SDG 16: Explaining peace, justice and strong institutions
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) developed a series of online learning modules on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. This is the...
Peace Justice And Strong Institution: Global Peace Amid Crises
SDG 16 Peace Justice And Strong Institution, an integral part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development encapsulates this commitment. For nearly eight decades, the UN has championed ...
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Without peace, stability, human rights and effective governance, based on the rule of law we cannot hope for sustainable development. We are living in a ...
Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions
Goal 16 targets. Links. Promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies. Peace, stability, human rights and effective governance based on the rule of law are important conduits for sustainable development. We are living in a world that is increasingly divided. Some regions enjoy sustained levels of peace, security and prosperity while others ...
Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Strong institutions, access to justice, and peaceful communities are key for sustainable development progress. Conflict, corruption, and weak institutions provide significant barriers to the delivery of national development strategies and the SDGs. ... Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. In: Gill, J.C., Smith, M. (eds) Geosciences and the ...
Goal 16
Read More. Goal 16. Compassion and a strong moral compass is essential to every democratic society. Yet, persecution, injustice and abuse still runs rampant and is tearing at the very fabric of civilization. We must ensure that we have strong institutions, global standards of justice, and a commitment to peace everywhere.
India's stance on SDG 16: Peace, Justice And Strong Institutions
India and Goal 16. In India, the judiciary is overburdened due to the large number of pending cases, with the backlog touching 33 million in 2018 - 28.4 million cases pending in subordinate courts, 4.3 million in High Courts and 57,987 cases in the Supreme Court. India has prioritised the strengthening of justice through government ...
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Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: How Effective & Just
This focus on public value and ethics is also embedded in the commitments that ACCA made in 2019 to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 16: Peace, justice, and strong institutions. Our commitment being: ACCA will promote and adhere to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and ethics.
Security Council Calls for Strengthening Africa's Role in Addressing
Underscoring the link between peace and development, he said international financial institutions and the UN development system "are failing to fulfil their objectives", principally due to the UN development system's main donors being interested only in a self-serving agenda, as is felt most keenly in Africa.
Israel's war on Gaza live news: Hamas armed wing fires rockets on Tel
A "strong" Palestinian Authority is needed to bring peace in the Middle East, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell says alongside Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa.

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GOAL 16: PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS

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