Advancing peace, justice and strengthening institutions to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda

Multiple, interconnected crises—including rising inequalities, poverty, hunger, climate change, and conflicts—continue to hinder progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – is both a prerequisite for sustainable development and an enabler of all other SDGs. Achieving it by 2030 requires stronger institutional capacities to uphold the rule of law, ensure access to justice and effective public services for all, foster peace and inclusion, and promote transparency and accountability.

The SDG 16 Conference 2025, taking place on 12 May at United Nations Headquarters in New York, will mobilize action and partnerships while examining how SDG 16 can accelerate progress across the 2030 Agenda and support the implementation of the Pact for the Future. 

Convened by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations, the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), the Conference will serve as an inclusive platform for political engagement on SDG 16 implementation.

It will bring together representatives of governments, international organizations, civil society, women, youth, and other key stakeholders. The Conference will feature the presentation of the 2025 Civil Society Declaration on SDG 16+ and highlight examples of how investments in SDG 16 deliver measurable benefits for governments and communities, helping them achieve broader development goals.

Key recommendations from the Conference will be shared as inputs to major upcoming events in 2025, including the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in June, the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July and the Second World Summit for Social Development in November.

The Conference will be held from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm EDT in the ECOSOC Chamber and will also be broadcast live via UN Web TV.