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Global Progress Report on Sustainable Development Goal 16: Indicators on Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has published the Global Progress Report on Sustainable Development Goal 16, focusing on the development of peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. It highlights SDG 16, promoting human rights, inclusive governance, and social trust.
At the root of the findings is the recognition that access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and government institutions is a cornerstone of inclusion and social progress. Global data shows us that around two-thirds of people are satisfied with government services like the provision of identity documents, while satisfaction rates are lower for education (58%) and healthcare (57%). These variations demonstrate the ongoing inequalities in the world: in some countries, fewer than one in ten citizens express satisfaction with healthcare, making the reach of social development uneven.
Legal identity emerges as another pillar of social inclusion. Over 500 million children under the age of five have had their births registered in the past five years, which is a major step forward. 150 million children remain unregistered, however, and effectively invisible to state systems, denying them access to rights, protection, and opportunities that are crucial to development.
The report also reveals concerning patterns of underrepresentation. Women remain concentrated in lower-level public service roles and are sidelined from senior judicial and legislative positions. Youth and women are less likely to hold leadership roles in parliaments and key committees, even though younger legislative bodies tend to be more gender balanced. Political participation extends beyond voting: fewer than half of people in high- and middle-income countries believe their voices matter in policymaking, pointing to a disconnect between governance structures and social engagement.
Discrimination continues to be a major deterrent of progress. One in five people globally report experiencing discrimination on grounds prohibited by international law, with higher prevalence in least developed countries and among women, persons with disabilities, and low-income populations. The report notes that education correlates strongly with reduced discrimination, underscoring the developmental dividends of inclusive schooling systems. Similarly, initiatives like gender equality seals for public institutions show how reforms in hiring, pay, and workplace support can shift institutional cultures toward fairness.
Social development is also about civic capacity and trust. The spread of access-to-information laws has expanded opportunities for transparency and accountability, now available in over 130 countries. Along with participatory mechanisms such as youth councils and participatory budgeting, these actions can create avenues for citizens to shape policies that affect their lives. Progress is still fragile; perceptions of safety remain unequal, with women being much less likely than men to feel secure walking alone at night, and exclusionary politics continue to leave many voices unheard.
Advancing peace, justice, and inclusion is not only about curbing violence or strengthening legal systems. It is also about deepening social development, ensuring equal access to services, eliminating discrimination, and creating institutions that reflect and respond to the diversity of society. In doing so, SDG 16 becomes a foundation for human dignity and sustainable progress worldwide.
