The Sustainable Development Goals are falling behind, civil society groups warned in a declaration presented in New York ahead of the UN’s 2026 SDG16 Conference. Under the theme “Taking a STAND for SDG16+,” the document sets out five areas with related recommendations: strengthening civic space, democracy and civil society; transforming financing systems towards economic justice; advancing accountability, people-centred justice and the rule of law; nurturing peacebuilding through conflict, violence and atrocity prevention; and defending human rights, fundamental freedoms and inclusion.
