Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
On May 12th, UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) President Bob Rae spoke at the opening of the 2025 SDG 16 Conference, held at the UN Headquarters in NY.
In his opening remarks, Rae stressed the importance of SDG 16, highlighting the fact that the world is going through a very challenging time with conflicts raging in many parts of the world, leading to mass migrations. But Rae’s harshest comments were aimed at those nations which are unilaterally undermining the rule of law.
“We are in the middle of an international trade war and trade crisis (there is no other way to describe it) that is taking place outside all the boundaries of existing trade agreements and trade treaties. We have signed treaties. We have made agreements. These agreements are being breached and torn apart by those who think they have the power to make unilateral decisions which leave the rest of us in the lurch, unable to make decisions about our economic and social future with confidence because some of the most powerful countries in the world have chosen to completely and entirely, ignore the international rule of law.” As a result development process has come to a halt.
Quoting the English philosopher Thomas Hobbs, Rae continued: “‘Without the rule of law, life becomes nasty. It becomes brutal. And it becomes short.’ Here we are several hundreds of years later , experiencing exactly the same thing. What Hobbs described as the War of all against all is, to a considerable extent, the chaos which has taken over many parts of the world. We are living in a world where chaos has been created by people who should know better. And by governments that should know better.”
Rae described the chaos and in terms of the destruction of institutional structures; as well as the public’s loss of confidence in those institutions. And added that this is being done “at the peril” of those who are undermining the rule of law. “Needless to say, it is first of all our obligation to describe this reality without fear…”
Rae’s reference to fear was a striking reminder of the prevalence of autocracy throughout the world . According to the 2025 report of the organization Democracy Without Borders, the number of autocratic states outnumbers democracies for the first time in 20 years; and 72% of the global population now live under autocratic rule.
Quoting British Conservative Edmund Burke, ‘’There is nothing more dangerous than governing in the name of a theory,’’ Rae highlighted the dangers this situation creates. ‘’You destroy institutional structures and confidence at your peril. And we’re experiencing that peril today. We have to stop this trend in its tracks and we have to recommit to move forward.’’ Rae stressed the need to rebuild trust, confidence and respect for the ‘’institutions that we have created… At a time when the multilateral system’s capacity to deliver is being actively undermined, and deliberately undermined, we need a new, renewed UN.’’ Rae’s reference to the need for a “renewed UN” echoed the call in the Pact for the Future, adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2024: “to create a renewed UN better able to guarantee peace and development.”
As he concluded his remarks, Rae returned to the importance of SDG 16: ‘’The reason we have SDG 16 Is because it provides the foundation for supporting HR; promoting resilient societies and restoring trust between people and their institutions.’’
