The sixth SDG 16+ technical consultation focused on access to justice in fragile contexts and as a means of sustaining peace will be convened in Sarajevo, Bosnia i Herzegovina, in May 2019, co-hosted by government counterparts and the United Nations Development Programme, in partnership with the Global Alliance on Reporting on Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies. The consultation will serve to highlight how SDG 16+ is an accelerator across the 2030 Agenda particularly for fragile and conflict-affected contexts. In particular, participants will exchange experiences in supporting the implementation of access to justice for sustaining peace and the role of monitoring and reporting on putting SDG 16+ into action by enabling people-centered and multi-stakeholder participation in defining, delivering, measuring, and reporting on objectives.
- SDG 16.3 “Promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all” will be specifically addressed during the consultation in relation to sustaining peace. Access to justice and the rule of law are considered cornerstones for peace to be sustainable, however in fragile and conflict-affected contexts, institutions often lack the capacity to reach those furthest behind. In contexts of protracted conflict and fragility, lack of accountable, effective, transparent and inclusive access to justice and rule of law are considered key contributors for conflicts to remain unresolved and latent. Strengthening the justice system and ensuring respect for the rule of law are thus vital for sustaining peace and, ultimately, development.
