Goal 16 is about promoting peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all, and building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. People everywhere should live free from fear and all forms of violence, feeling safe as they go about their lives—regardless of their ethnicity, faith, or sexual orientation.
However, ongoing and newly emerging violent conflicts around the world are derailing the global path to peace and threatening the achievement of Goal 16. Following an unprecedentedly high civilian death toll in 2024, conflict-related civilian deaths fell by 23% in 2025 (from 48,011 to 37,163), ending three consecutive years of increases. Yet, civilian deaths remain well above post-2015 levels. Among those killed, one in five was a child and one in four was female—with Gaza alone accounting for 70% of all child deaths and 60% of female deaths recorded in conflicts globally.
Governments, civil society, and communities must work together to find lasting solutions to conflict and insecurity. Strengthening the rule of law and promoting human rights are key to this process, as are reducing the flow of illicit arms, combating corruption, and ensuring inclusive participation at all times.
Why should I care?
High levels of armed violence and insecurity have a destructive impact on a country’s development. Sexual violence, crime, exploitation, and torture thrive where there is conflict or a weak rule of law. Because of this, countries must take active measures to protect those who are most at risk.
How does this apply to where I live?
Goal 16 aligns with the broader human rights framework by promoting societies that respect and uphold individual rights—including the right to privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information.
Peace is a fundamental precondition for development. Without it, societies are often plagued by conflict, violence, and instability, which hinder progress and waste precious lives and resources.
Equal access to justice is essential because it protects individual rights, resolves disputes fairly, and ensures that vulnerable populations are not marginalized or mistreated.
No country is immune. Crimes that threaten peaceful societies—including homicide, human trafficking, organized crime, and discriminatory laws—affect communities all over the world.
What if we don’t take action?
Armed violence and insecurity severely damage a country’s development, stalling economic growth and leaving behind deep, long-standing community grievances.
Violence also directly impacts children’s health, development, and overall well-being. It causes deep trauma and weakens social inclusion, making it harder for the next generation to thrive.
Without access to justice, conflicts remain unresolved, leaving victims without protection or redress. Institutions that operate outside legitimate laws easily succumb to corruption and abuse of power, making them incapable of serving the public.
Exclusion and discrimination do more than violate basic human rights—they breed resentment and animosity, which frequently escalate into violence.
What can we do?
You can exercise your rights by holding your elected officials accountable, utilizing your right to freedom of information, and sharing your opinions directly with your representatives. You can also champion equality and kindness toward people of different ethnic origins, religions, genders, sexual orientations, or opposing viewpoints.
- In 2025, conflict-related civilian deaths declined by 23 per cent.
- About 20 percent of civilian deaths are children and 25 percent are female; Gaza alone contributed to 70 percent of global child deaths and 60 per cent of female deaths in armed conflicts.
- The number of forcibly displaced people reached 117 million by June 2025.
- In 2021, the world experienced the highest number of intentional homicides in the past two decades. The global homicide rate declined from 5.9 per 100,000 people in 2015 to 5.1 in 2024
- Globally, detected human trafficking victims increased by 25 per cent in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels and by 43 per cent compared to 2020. A key driver of this surge is the growing number of child victims, which has risen by 31 per cent since 2019.
- Killings and disappearances of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists remained alarmingly high in 2024, with at least 502 killings documented across 44 countries and 123 disappearances documented across 37 countries. While these represent slight declines from 2023, persistent human rights abuses continue to undermine progress towards peace, justice and accountability.
- Though 64 per cent of the world’s population is 40 or younger, and roughly half are female, in 2025, 77 per cent of speakers in parliament and 63 per cent of committee chairs were men over the age of 40.
16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children
16.3 Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
16.4 By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime
16.5 Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
16.6 Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels
16.7 Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
16.8 Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance
16.9 By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration
16.10 Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements
16.A 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
16.B Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development
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