The 2026 Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+ responds to a world marked by deepening conflict, shrinking civic space, widening inequality, and weakening trust in institutions. As progress toward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development falls further behind, the Declaration argues that SDG16+—peace, justice, strong institutions, and inclusion—must be treated not as a side goal, but as the foundation for achieving the entire development agenda.
Grounded in consultations with civil society actors across regions, the Declaration reflects the experiences of peacebuilders, human rights defenders, legal aid providers, grassroots organizations, women leaders, youth groups, and local communities working under increasingly difficult conditions. It presents five interconnected priorities: strengthening civic space, democracy, and civil society; transforming financing systems toward economic justice; advancing people-centered justice and rule of law; nurturing peace-building through conflict, violence, and atrocity prevention; and defending human rights, fundamental freedoms, and inclusion.
At its core, the document is a call for governments, the UN system, donors, and civil society to move beyond commitments and toward concrete action. It emphasizes that rebuilding trust, protecting rights, and enabling meaningful participation are essential to restoring multilateral cooperation and making sustainable development possible.
Read the statement signed by the Sacred Heart at the UN here:
2026 Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+
