updated october 2017 briefing Residents, with their belongings, return to their villages after being displaced by fighting in Ras al-Ain, Syria. ©rodi said/reuters

from AGREEMENT TO ACTION: BUILDING PEACEFUL, UST AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES THROUGH THE 2030 AGENDA A RENEWED COMMITMENT TO SUSTAIN PEACE AND PREVENT CONFLICT

In the 70 years since the United Nations (UN) Various multilateral tools and processes community’s approach to conflict is to was established “to save succeeding already exist to help the international move from reaction – often involving generations from the scourge of war”, community respond to these challenges. securitised intervention – to prevention. the overall trend has been towards a more But, with peace at the heart of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal 16 – to peaceable world. However, the significant Agenda for Sustainable Development, “Promote peaceful and inclusive societies reduction in violent conflict, especially there is now a universally agreed vision to for sustainable development, provide since the end of the Cold War, is now at address the complex roots that underpin access to justice for all and build effective, risk: there were more direct conflict deaths today’s crises. Building peaceful, just and accountable and inclusive institutions at in 2014 than at any time since 1989. There inclusive societies will be key for sustain- all levels” – and its accompanying targets are currently more armed conflicts than at ing peace in countries emerging from provide an important guide for such any time this century. Half of those living in conflict – the contexts most at risk of a efforts. However, there are also key peace- extreme poverty are in countries suffering relapse into violence – but it will also related targets under other Goals; and from, or at risk of, high levels of violence. reduce the risk of conflict in all countries. indeed the whole development frame- And one person in every 122 is now a Hence the emphasis on the universality of work should work in favour of peace. refugee, internally displaced, or seeking the 2030 Agenda, as opposed to treating Progress in meeting all targets will require asylum. fragile or conflict-affected countries as a action on a number of fronts: primarily group with distinct needs. This change in at the national level but supported by mindset will be vital if the international enabling partnerships at the global level. saferworld briefing From agreement to action

Preparing for implementation at national level

Building peaceful, just and inclusive underpinned by a common vision of civil society groups, research organisa- societies at local and national levels will development. tions, technology companies, and the require action on a number of fronts. wider private sector. Independent third 3. Organising for action: Identified Different actor groups will have a role to parties could be used to gather data for champions can help build understand- play in championing progress, organising potentially sensitive indicators under ing and ownership of the agenda, a common effort, getting engaged in Goal 16. through national dialogues and multi- implementation, monitoring progress and stakeholder analysis of issues that 6. Setting national targets: Where providing feedback. underpin peace, justice and inclusivity possible, baseline data should be 1. Mobilising champions: The 2030 in their own context. Structures will gathered for each indicator under Agenda will only be transformative if also be needed to mobilise institutions priority targets. Governments, in local and national champions demon- and society at large to drive progress – consultation with other stakeholders, strate the courage and leadership to while taking care that any new will then need to set quantified bench- unite people and institutions behind a institutional architecture will serve marks for each of these indicators: progressive vision. This may be politically a clear purpose. Existing structures where does the country aim to be by challenging, but where leaders, should be leveraged and built upon 2030? These national targets must be ministers, politicians and civil society rather than replicated. ambitious but realistic for each context. recognise and affirm the relevance Benchmark targets can still be identified of Goal 16 and other key targets to 4. Identifying relevant indicators: Led where baseline data is unavailable, people’s needs in their own countries, by champions and national statistics though they should be open for review this agenda can translate into huge offices working together, there should when baseline data becomes available. benefits for public well-being, social be an inclusive process of dialogue See table 1 below for an example of cohesion and confidence in the future. between governments, civil society and what this might look like. experts in order to identify national 2. Supporting inclusively defined local indicators to complement global indi- 7. Ensuring accountability: Champions and national priorities: Implementation cators. Baskets that include a balance should engage with parliaments, inde- of the global sustainable development of different types of indicators – for pendent commissions, watchdog bodies, agenda must be adapted to the realities instance, from perception surveys activists, the media and the wider pub- lic to ensure that they are all informed of a wide variety of national and local as well as institutional records – will contexts. It should be integrated with about the specific national targets for help tell a more comprehensive and existing national and local plans, but 2030. Timely, reliable and independent nuanced story of progress. should also be an opportunity to data available to all stakeholders will stimulate debate about what the real 5. Developing data capacities: Identifying enable regular assessments of progress priorities are. The 2030 Agenda offers indicators is one thing, gathering the in implementation, can be used to hold a platform to assess priority needs pro- data is quite another. To overcome key actors accountable for meeting actively, in consultation with the public, capacity limitations, this will require commitments, and can galvanise action to link these priorities to existing plans, the mobilisation of national statistical in areas of under-performance. and to develop strategies for a range systems working in partnership with an of different ministries and bodies, all array of data-gatherers: UN agencies,

Setting quantified benchmarks for Table 1: Example country in 2020 with benchmarked indicators target indicators at national level: Some targets in the 2030 Agenda are 16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere not quantified. To know when they Global indicators Baseline National Progress have been met at national level, 2015 target 2030 in 2020 benchmarks can be set at the indicator level (for both national and global Violent homicides per 100,000 12 8 8 indicators). Targets would be considered met within a country when the agreed Total conflict deaths 236 0 0 benchmarks at indicator level have % of people who report that they feel been reached. This can be demonstrated safe walking alone at night in the city 42 75 48 using target 16.1, as it is currently or area where they live worded, for a fictional country in the year 2020. As with the Millennium National indicators Development Goals (MDGs), colour Number of people per 100,000 displaced coding could be used to ascertain 12 0 2.3 whether a country has achieved the by conflict target (green), is on track to meeting % of people who have been violently 8 4 it (orange) or unlikely to meet it (red). threatened or assaulted 6.5 saferworld briefing From agreement to action

A Global Environment that Enables Peace

Implementation of the 2030 Agenda will used as a shared platform to bring 6. Facilitate learning between contexts: succeed or fail at national level, but global together the development, security There is still much to learn about best processes will still be critical for enabling and human rights pillars of the UN. practice in preventing conflict and action to promote peaceful, just and If the UN is to help sustain peace and sustaining peace. Innovative approaches inclusive societies. prevent conflict, it must leverage the should be shared between contexts, new development framework to cutting across developed, middle- Turning commit- 1. Build partnerships: strengthen the income and developing countries. ments into action on the ground Architecture whilst working to over- To enable this, it will be important to requires that the political energy come disconnects within its system, take stock of the various knowledge generated so far is sustained and notably between the General Assembly, platforms, networks and practitioners redoubled. Drawing from governments, ECOSOC, and the Security Council, as that can offer experience and evidence multilateral agencies, civil society and well as between country teams and to support those working for peaceful, the private sector, a global partnership specialised agencies. just and inclusive societies. that brings together supporters of peaceful, just and inclusive societies 4. Provide context-specific support: 7. Reinforce the monitoring framework: will help sustain political energy and Depending on their national contexts, Much-needed support should be be a source of support for champions countries will start this process at provided to strengthen official and at the national level. It should be different points; many will require non-official data production capacities, mobilised for coordination around context-specific support from the as well as collaborative initiatives such key processes within and outside the international community. Conflict- as the Praia Group on Governance UN system. affected states, in particular, will need Statistics. Good quality and useful special and concerted attention. Some data on issues related to peace, justice 2. Align existing global initiatives: such countries have already adopted a and inclusion should be considered a Existing global initiatives such as the framework to guide their efforts – the public good that is central for making New Deal for International Engagement New Deal – and lessons from the pilot the 2030 Agenda a force for peace and in Fragile States and the Open Govern- phase of this initiative could inform conflict prevention throughout the ment Partnership should be aligned the approach taken in other contexts. world. with peace-related aspects of the 2030 Agenda, with explicit linkages made 5. Target transnational drivers of conflict: Not all conflict drivers can be addressed between key goals and targets, in terms at national level. Tackling the impact of implementation, reporting and data of illicit financial flows, irresponsible mechanisms. A global partnership arms transfers and organised crime will could help to realise the synergies require domestic policy changes in between these different initiatives developed countries as well as collective under a common vision. action at international level. Existing 3. Enhance coherence in the UN system: global initiatives, such as the UN Arms Goal 16 and other transformative Trade Treaty, can help facilitate this aspects of the 2030 Agenda could be action.

PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE IMPLEMENTATION UNIVERSALITY While some contexts PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST The emphasis RESPONSIVE AND INCLUSIVE will face larger challenges than others, on building peaceful, just and inclusive STATES This is not to deny the centrality all countries must strive to create more societies is fundamental. Past efforts of the state in implementing the 2030 peaceful, just and inclusive societies. have often focused on strengthening Agenda. Effective state institutions are In addition, all countries need to reduce the capacities of states – often at the needed to deliver public services and the risk of their own policies – foreign expense of the people they are meant create conditions for inclusive economic and domestic – impacting negatively to serve. People must be the focus of growth. Key institutions must also be on others in our inter-dependent world. action to sustain peace and prevent able to uphold the rule of law and In some cases, multi-stakeholder action conflict: for instance, national and inter- tackle impunity. At the same time, states at global level will be required to national security strategies should be evolve to be inclusive and effective address transnational problems that aligned with people’s security – rather through ensuring representation for all affect people in all countries, such as than undermining it. In addition, strong social groups, and by being responsive irresponsible or illicit flows of finance societies are required to ensure that and accountable to the people they and arms. there is healthy balance in state-society serve. relations and that divisions within society are resolved peacefully. saferworld briefing From agreement to action

notes 1 Pettersson T, Wallensteen P (2015), ‘Armed conflicts, 1946–2014’, in Journal Peace of Research Vol 52. (4) pp 536–550. 2 Ibid. 3 UNHCR (2015), ‘Worldwide displacement hits all-time high as war and persecution increase’, 18 June (www.unhcr.org/558193896.html) Saferworld is an independent inter- conduct wider analysis, research and 4 UNESCO (2013), ‘Half of all out-of-school children live in conflict-affected countries’, UNESCO Press, national organisation working to prevent surveys of local perceptions. We use this 11 July (www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/ violent conflict and build safer lives. evidence and learning to improve local, single-view/news/unesco_half_of_all_out_ of_school_children_live_in_conflict_affected_ Our priority is people – we believe that national and international policies and countries/#.VfA68BFVhBc) everyone should be able to lead peaceful, practices that can help build lasting peace. 5 World Bank (2011), World Development Report fulfilling lives, free from insecurity and We are a not-for-profit organisation 2011: Conflict, Security and Development Washington DC: World Bank, p 63. violent conflict. We work with local with programmes in nearly 20 countries 6 Chandy L, Gertz G (2011), ‘Poverty in Numbers: people affected by conflict to improve and territories across , the Middle The Changing State of Global Poverty from 2005 to 2015’, Global Views Policy Brief 2011-01, their safety and sense of security, and East, and . The Brookings Institution, p 10; OECD (2015), ‘States of Fragility 2015: Meeting Post-2015 Ambitions’, p 9. publications

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n Measuring peace from 2015: n From the Sustainable Development n Gender, violence and peace: n Addressing conflict and violence from An indicator framework at work Goals to the post-2015 development A post-2015 development agenda 2015: A vision of goals, targets and n Peace and the post-2015 development agenda: Building a consensus for n Approaching post-2015 from a peace indicators agenda: Understanding the Brazilian peace perspective perspective n Conflict and the post-2015 development agenda: Perspectives from South Africa

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