By Jhr Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland LL.M.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) are a new set of goals constituted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2012 and adopted by the world leaders at a UN Summit in 2015. As part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the SDG’s form the core of the UN’s Post-2015 Development Agenda.
The SDG’s succeed the Millenium Development Goals (MDG’s) which were designed to combat all forms of poverty. The SDG’s are part of the 17 Global Goals that give direction to the world wide action for sustainable development till the year of 2030.
SDG 16 is about peace, justice and strong institutions. Being the world’s international city of peace and justice, the City of The Hague wants to play an active role in SDG 16: in promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, providing access to justice for all and to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
The implementation of SDG 16 can be achieved by applying twelve targets in which (local) governments, civil societies (such as businesses) and communities work together. For those twelve targets multiple tasks arise. A number of NGO’s in The Hague as well as several international courts and tribunals in The Hague showed their interest for SDG 16 as well.
An example is the implementation of the Global Legal Inclusion Program (GLIM) made by MicroJustice4All for a Coalition to establish SDG 16 in multiple cities. The GLIM maps ‘marginalized groups’ such as victims of conflict and disaster and people at the bottom of the social / income pyramid and their legal rights.
The target is to provide legal identity for all, including birth registration. On November 7th, 2017, the Mayor of The Hague and the Alderman for International Affairs will be present to show their commitment at a conference of MicroJustice4All. The City of The Hague will continue to involve the NGO’s , courts and tribunals in the implemention of SDG 16.
To be continued !
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About the author: Jhr. Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland LL.M. is Justice (Judge) in the (Dutch) Court of Appeal and honorary Special Advisor International Affairs, appointed in 2004 by the Mayor and Aldermen of The Hague
