On June 7, QUNO NY held a discussion on Sustainable Development Goal 16 titled “Spotlight on SDG 16: Providing Access to Justice for All’. The event brought together UN diplomats, colleagues from the UN system and civil society to unpack the ‘justice’ element of SDG 16, delving further into both reproductive and environmental justice. The diverse lineup of speakers provided thought-provoking perspectives on what it means to ‘provide access to justice’. Ambassador Odo Tevi of the Permanent mission of Vanuatu spoke about the recent request for an International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on the responsibility of states to future generations. The Ambassador emphasized that achieving SDG 16 requires a multifaceted approach encompassing legal, social and political cohesion at both national and international levels. Professor Loretta Ross delivered an excellent overview of reproductive rights in the United States, reminding participants that is important to consider a broader perspective when addressing sexual and reproductive health. There is a need to look beyond abortion as a singular, stand-alone decision but rather recognize its interconnection to various factors such as job security, access to affordable housing and healthcare. Adopting a comprehensive approach and focusing on the full range of services needed to raise […]
From 30 May to 1 June, Kavita Desai, QUNO NY Representative, actively participated in the fourth annual Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) Conference. The conference was organized by the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. In addition to the conference, a civil society day was observed on 29 May. The conference brought together government representatives, international organizations, civil society, and academia. The aim of the conference was to review progress and challenges to achieving SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Discussions focused on conflict and the shrinking trust in public institutions alongside panels on the crosscutting nature of climate change and food systems challenges. The overarching theme was how implementing SDG 16 can support the transition to a more sustainable world. Kavita actively participated during the conference and also participated in the civil society pre-conference session and in the drafting and finalization of the 2023 Rome Civil Society Declaration. The key messages of the conference, include that SDG 16 can help to build […]
Florence Foster, Representative for Peace & Disarmament at QUNO Gevena, spoke at the Human Rights Council 53rd Session during the Interactive Dialogue on casualty recording. Many stakeholders welcomed the High Commissioner’s report on “Impact of casualty recording on the promotion and protection of human rights” (HRC/53/48) and recognized the importance of casualty recording in informing analysis on patterns of violence, contributing to the fulfilment of SDG16, but also to transitional justice processes and lasting reconciliation [full recording of the Interactive Dialogue can be found here]. QUNO in turn also highlighted the important links between the work of the Council on casualty recording and the work it does on the human rights impact of arms transfers (see latest report) and civilian acquisition of firearms (see latest report). Together these bodies of work help better understand the supply and demand side of weapons and the role of conventional arms in driving the escalation of armed violence and conflict. They therefore help foster prevention and protection across contexts and at multiple levels by highlighting the root causes of violence and the widespread availability of weapons, including by highlighting the role businesses such as the arms sector play. Please see below the full […]
On June 7, QUNO NY held a discussion on Sustainable Development Goal 16 titled “Spotlight on SDG 16: Providing Access to Justice for All’. The event brought together UN diplomats, colleagues from the UN system and civil society to unpack the ‘justice’ element of SDG 16, delving further into both reproductive and environmental justice. The discussion centered around the intersectionality of equal access to justice, strategies for translating SDG targets into tangible national laws and action plans and methods to improve data collection on equal access to justice.
On May 2, 2023, QUNO New York Representative, Kavita Desai, delivered a statement before the UN’s Economic and Social Council on behalf of Friends World Committee on Consultation (FWCC). The special meeting titled ‘Unleashing the transformative power of SDG 16: Improving governance and reducing corruption’ considered the importance and implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG 16) on peace, justice, and building inclusive institutions in a post-pandemic era. In her statement, Kavita reminded participants that civil society must be part of this effort: ‘enhancing transparency and accountability and combating corruption efforts must acknowledge the role of civil society, recognize them as partners, and resource their efforts, and work towards expanding and protecting civic space’. This is all the more critical, she noted, in the face of shrinking civic space globally. Read the full statement here. Watch the intervention here, starting at 02:46.
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