.
In a world torn by armed conflict, scarred by extreme poverty and inequality, threatened by climate change, and at the same time, experiencing enormous breakthroughs in science, technology and economic growth that could make this a much better place for all, people’s demand for change is deafening.
In September 2015, the world’s leaders took a historic step at the United Nations adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: a global agenda of unprecedented scope and significance.
“We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet”, governments said and committed themselves to a transformative “plan of action for people, planet and prosperity”.
Transformational change requires that we look at sustainable development with a new lens: sustainable development is at its core a call to address the injustices created by extreme poverty, growing inequalities, over consumption and environmental degradation. No injustice can be set right without the rule of law.
In a ground-breaking move, the 2030 Agenda has put justice and the rule of law firmly at the heart of development. It is no longer an optional extra, but a premise without which development cannot be sustained.
Goal 16 acknowledges that access to justice, the rule of law and effective, inclusive institutions are essential ingredients of sustainable development. Clean government is as important as clean water.
But the relationship between the rule of law and the 2030 Agenda goes deeper than Goal 16.
The rule of law is about equal protection, accountability and transparency. In that sense, it cuts across all the Sustainable Development Goals. Without access to justice and the rule of law, development cannot flourish, investment will not take root, the planet cannot survive, the poor cannot overcome poverty, women cannot fight discrimination and become agents of their own destiny.
No matter where in the development spectrum a particular country stands, establishing peace or protecting the planet, eradicating poverty or encouraging economic opportunity, requires good laws and regulations that are fairly administered by transparent and accountable institutions and that, most importantly, produce fair outcomes for all.
As the world grapples with an unprecedented number of humanitarian crises, we must recognize that a strong, independent judiciary and properly trained police, prosecutors and border officials, backed by laws and regulations in line with international obligations, mean that in times of crises there are well-established institutions to uphold international law and humanitarian norms and address impunity. Developing the capacity of legal and justice systems is critical for effective humanitarian response.
However, changes in development fortunes occur only when the poor and marginalized are empowered to act and address the root causes of their impoverishment and disempowerment. People must be made aware of their rights so that they are able to claim them. IDLO’s field experience and research and that of others suggest that the poor are empowered through access to justice and information, just laws and capable institutions.
The rule of law is about equal protection of rights, about leaving no one behind. By empowering people it helps to build resilient societies. By strengthening the integrity and capacity of institutions, it ensures justice and accountability.
Protecting the planet, eradicating poverty and hunger, fighting inequality, guaranteeing health, creating more inclusive societies, promoting economic opportunity, all require good laws and regulations that are fairly administered by transparent and accountable institutions and that produce fair outcomes for all.
Delivering on 17 SDGs is ambitious and will require commitment to the Global Partnership that needs all members of society to work together to implement it: civil society, governments, the private sector, academia and multilateral organizations.
Agenda 2030 is an inspiring document – but it will become a truly transformative agenda only when the words are converted into action.
Editor’s Note: The feature was originally published in the 2016 Global Action Report, produced by Diplomatic Courier for the Global Action Platform. To read the full report visit: http://www.mazdigital.com/webreader/42981. Republished here with permission.
About the Author: Irene Khan is Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). The first woman to hold this office, she was elected by Member Parties on 17 November 2011 and took up her position formally on 1 January 2012 for a term of four years. An international thought leader on human rights, gender and social justice issues, Irene Khan was Secretary General of Amnesty International from 2001 - 2009. Prior to that, she worked for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for 21 years at headquarters and in various field operations. She was Visiting Professor at the State University of New York Law School (Buffalo) in 2011. Ms. Khan is a member of the World Bank Advisory Council on Gender and Development. She sits on the boards of several international human rights and development organizations. Ms. Khan received the Sydney Peace Prize in 2006 for her work to end violence against women and girls. Her book, The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights, has been translated into seven languages. Born in Bangladesh, Irene Khan studied law at the University of Manchester and Harvard Law School.
About the Author: Irene Khan is Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). The first woman to hold this office, she was elected by Member Parties on 17 November 2011 and took up her position formally on 1 January 2012 for a term of four years. An international thought leader on human rights, gender and social justice issues, Irene Khan was Secretary General of Amnesty International from 2001 - 2009. Prior to that, she worked for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for 21 years at headquarters and in various field operations. She was Visiting Professor at the State University of New York Law School (Buffalo) in 2011. Ms. Khan is a member of the World Bank Advisory Council on Gender and Development. She sits on the boards of several international human rights and development organizations. Ms. Khan received the Sydney Peace Prize in 2006 for her work to end violence against women and girls. Her book, The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights, has been translated into seven languages. Born in Bangladesh, Irene Khan studied law at the University of Manchester and Harvard Law School.The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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Leaving No One Behind: A New Development Paradigm
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September 13, 2016
In a world torn by armed conflict, scarred by extreme poverty and inequality, threatened by climate change, and at the same time, experiencing enormous breakthroughs in science, technology and economic growth that could make this a much better place for all, people’s demand for change is deafening.
In September 2015, the world’s leaders took a historic step at the United Nations adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: a global agenda of unprecedented scope and significance.
“We are resolved to free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet”, governments said and committed themselves to a transformative “plan of action for people, planet and prosperity”.
Transformational change requires that we look at sustainable development with a new lens: sustainable development is at its core a call to address the injustices created by extreme poverty, growing inequalities, over consumption and environmental degradation. No injustice can be set right without the rule of law.
In a ground-breaking move, the 2030 Agenda has put justice and the rule of law firmly at the heart of development. It is no longer an optional extra, but a premise without which development cannot be sustained.
Goal 16 acknowledges that access to justice, the rule of law and effective, inclusive institutions are essential ingredients of sustainable development. Clean government is as important as clean water.
But the relationship between the rule of law and the 2030 Agenda goes deeper than Goal 16.
The rule of law is about equal protection, accountability and transparency. In that sense, it cuts across all the Sustainable Development Goals. Without access to justice and the rule of law, development cannot flourish, investment will not take root, the planet cannot survive, the poor cannot overcome poverty, women cannot fight discrimination and become agents of their own destiny.
No matter where in the development spectrum a particular country stands, establishing peace or protecting the planet, eradicating poverty or encouraging economic opportunity, requires good laws and regulations that are fairly administered by transparent and accountable institutions and that, most importantly, produce fair outcomes for all.
As the world grapples with an unprecedented number of humanitarian crises, we must recognize that a strong, independent judiciary and properly trained police, prosecutors and border officials, backed by laws and regulations in line with international obligations, mean that in times of crises there are well-established institutions to uphold international law and humanitarian norms and address impunity. Developing the capacity of legal and justice systems is critical for effective humanitarian response.
However, changes in development fortunes occur only when the poor and marginalized are empowered to act and address the root causes of their impoverishment and disempowerment. People must be made aware of their rights so that they are able to claim them. IDLO’s field experience and research and that of others suggest that the poor are empowered through access to justice and information, just laws and capable institutions.
The rule of law is about equal protection of rights, about leaving no one behind. By empowering people it helps to build resilient societies. By strengthening the integrity and capacity of institutions, it ensures justice and accountability.
Protecting the planet, eradicating poverty and hunger, fighting inequality, guaranteeing health, creating more inclusive societies, promoting economic opportunity, all require good laws and regulations that are fairly administered by transparent and accountable institutions and that produce fair outcomes for all.
Delivering on 17 SDGs is ambitious and will require commitment to the Global Partnership that needs all members of society to work together to implement it: civil society, governments, the private sector, academia and multilateral organizations.
Agenda 2030 is an inspiring document – but it will become a truly transformative agenda only when the words are converted into action.
Editor’s Note: The feature was originally published in the 2016 Global Action Report, produced by Diplomatic Courier for the Global Action Platform. To read the full report visit: http://www.mazdigital.com/webreader/42981. Republished here with permission.
About the Author: Irene Khan is Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). The first woman to hold this office, she was elected by Member Parties on 17 November 2011 and took up her position formally on 1 January 2012 for a term of four years. An international thought leader on human rights, gender and social justice issues, Irene Khan was Secretary General of Amnesty International from 2001 - 2009. Prior to that, she worked for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for 21 years at headquarters and in various field operations. She was Visiting Professor at the State University of New York Law School (Buffalo) in 2011. Ms. Khan is a member of the World Bank Advisory Council on Gender and Development. She sits on the boards of several international human rights and development organizations. Ms. Khan received the Sydney Peace Prize in 2006 for her work to end violence against women and girls. Her book, The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights, has been translated into seven languages. Born in Bangladesh, Irene Khan studied law at the University of Manchester and Harvard Law School.
About the Author: Irene Khan is Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO). The first woman to hold this office, she was elected by Member Parties on 17 November 2011 and took up her position formally on 1 January 2012 for a term of four years. An international thought leader on human rights, gender and social justice issues, Irene Khan was Secretary General of Amnesty International from 2001 - 2009. Prior to that, she worked for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for 21 years at headquarters and in various field operations. She was Visiting Professor at the State University of New York Law School (Buffalo) in 2011. Ms. Khan is a member of the World Bank Advisory Council on Gender and Development. She sits on the boards of several international human rights and development organizations. Ms. Khan received the Sydney Peace Prize in 2006 for her work to end violence against women and girls. Her book, The Unheard Truth: Poverty and Human Rights, has been translated into seven languages. Born in Bangladesh, Irene Khan studied law at the University of Manchester and Harvard Law School.The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
