UNGA80: A Crossroads for Peace, Justice, and Inclusion

As world leaders continue to gather in New York for the 80th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Pathfinders for Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies will continue to engage with governments on how to respond to some of the converging crises of our time—inequality, sovereign debt distress, violence and conflict, climate change, global justice gap, democratic backsliding, and trust in institutions at all levels.

At this UN General Assembly, Pathfinders is considering how commitments are translated into action—and results—at the national, regional, and global levels. The call is clear: this is the time to invest in the rule of law, strong institutions, and good governance—anchoring innovative solutions in local realities, responsive to people’s needs. We are also convinced that by engaging local communities, we can build a future of trust, inclusion, and equitable economic growth for all.

UN at 80: A Crossroads for Multilateralism and the SDGs

Eighty years after the founding of the UN, multilateralism faces its toughest stress test yet. International institutions are under pressure from growing demands for reform, intensifying geopolitical rivalry, and overlapping financial crises. The United Nations is not an exception. Around the world, rising protests reflect an erosion of trust in leadership and institutions at both local and global levels. When people perceive that governments and multilateral organizations lack the capacity to deliver, trust breaks down across every layer—from the UN itself to local communities. For the SDGs, this legitimacy gap is especially dangerous: progress on the 2030 Agenda depends not only on resources and policies, but also on whether people believe their institutions are working for them and governments have the political courage to make good on promises made.

Ten years into the 2030 Agenda, only 35 percent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track, with SDG16—on peace, justice, inclusion, and effective institutions—among those furthest behind. Yet we are convinced that SDG16 remains a crucial lever for sustainable development: a strategic enabler that can accelerate progress across the goals, rebuild trust between people and institutions, and help societies navigate disruption with resilience.

Signs of progress amid extraordinary challenges and lessons to build on

Despite daunting setbacks, there are reasons for cautious optimism. An increasing number of countries are reporting on SDG16 targets—on reducing violence, advancing access to justice, and strengthening governance—providing valuable data and lessons to share. According to the 2025 Sustainable Development Goals report, the global homicide rate has fallen by 12 percent between 2015 and 2023. By 2024, 89 countries had fully compliant independent national human rights institutions—up from 70 in 2015—serving 55 percent of the global population, and 140 countries had adopted access-to-information laws, up from just 14 in 1990. Since 2015, most countries have seen income and consumption growth for the bottom 40 percent of their population outpace the national average, highlighting progress in reducing inequalities, though disparities still persist. Local and national experiences show that progress is possible even in difficult contexts. These examples demonstrate a critical truth: investing in peace, justice, and inclusion does not stand apart from development, but accelerates it. When people can access justice, trust institutions, and live free from violence, societies are better equipped to tackle inequality, bridge digital divides, and drive equitable growth.

Global Commitments and Local Realities

At the heart of SDG16 is an urgent promise: that people everywhere should live in safety and with dignity, be assured of accountability from those in power, and have fair opportunities to thrive. Yet this commitment only becomes real when it is felt in everyday life, in every country and in every region of the world. For communities, it means justice systems that are accessible and responsive, corruption that is confronted rather than tolerated, civic space that is safeguarded, and the freedom to walk safely in the streets or remain in one’s home without fear of violence. In today’s interconnected world, it also means digital inclusion—the ability to participate fully in education, work, and civic life without being left behind by technological disruption. These are the conditions that determine whether global pledges translate into tangible improvements in people’s lives.

What Pathfinders is Watching at UNGA80

Pathfinders will be tracking how major debates and commitments intersect with peace, justice, and inclusion. Chief among them is the implementation of the Pact for the Future, and how its promises connect to SDG16 as a driver of trust and resilience. The outcomes of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), held earlier this year in Seville, now move into the spotlight: debt relief, fiscal justice, and equitable financing are not abstract principles, but immediate tests of whether countries can invest in the social contracts their people demand. Beyond financing, Pathfinders is closely following discussions on civic space, democratic resilience, and the protection of human rights, all of which shape whether institutions are seen as legitimate and trustworthy. Additionally, the high-level meetings to commemorate Beijing+30 and launch the global dialogue on AI governance will set the tone for addressing key components to advance gender equality and close the digital divide. These conversations are not isolated—they build on the momentum of the 2023 SDG Summit, the adoption of the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and debates about what a post-2030 agenda should look like.

At this milestone UN General Assembly, apathy is not an option. The 80th session must be remembered not for rhetoric, but for renewed investment in the basics that make societies resilient: peace, justice, and inclusion. These are not peripheral ambitions—they are necessities. SDG16 remains the connective tissue of the 2030 Agenda, the foundation on which all other goals depend. If governments and institutions fail to deliver on dignity, accountability, and opportunity, progress will continue to falter. However, if they act now—by anchoring commitments in local realities and responding directly to people’s needs—leaders can rebuild trust, strengthen democratic resilience, and chart a course towards stronger, more equitable growth. Investing in peace, justice, and inclusion is not optional; it is the precondition for sustainable development today, and for any framework that comes after 2030.