Impact of the pandemic on measuring progress of SDG16+

On 12 July, members of the SDG16 Data Initiative — a collective project by a consortium of 17 organisations seeking to support tracking the global commitments made by more than 194 countries on peace, justice, and strong institutions — held a side event on the margins of the 2021 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) to discuss challenges and opportunities on the creation of data and measurement of progress in achieving SDG16 during and after the pandemic; and to hold a conversation on the SDG16 Data Initiative Global Report 2021, which will be launched at the end of 2021 as a collaborative effort among the members of the Initiative.

Ivana Bjelic Vucinic, Project Manager of the Global Forum for Media Development, spoke about the safety of journalists, and illustrated how data provided by international press freedom groups and human rights organisations report constant decline and deterioration in the environment for independent journalism. She also discussed the issue of impunity and staggering increase of violence against journalists — women, specifically — and the heightening of new forms of violence against women, today also victims of gendered online violence and attacks.

The Covid-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, from limitations in the capacity to collect official and non-official data to challenges in terms of progress in achieving all 12 SDG16 targets, including those discussed above. Evaluating and measuring progress during and after the pandemic is a difficult but crucial task, because it can provide a current picture of the state of SDG16 around the world. It can also indicate early warning signs for threats to SDG16, such as democratic backsliding, reduced access to information, threats to human rights, and diminished institutional transparency. The monitoring of these and other trends, by both official and non-official actors, is vital for ensuring sustained progress towards peace, justice and inclusion.

Explore this article to read more about the main topics discussed and outcome of the event.