Blue background with white text "16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions," featuring a white dove holding an olive branch perched on a gavel.

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

SDG 16 aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. Many regions face challenges such as violence, corruption, and lack of justice, hindering social and economic development.

How engineering can make it happen

Engineering practice that is diverse and inclusive, sustainable and ethical is essential for advancing the SDGs. Engineers are partnering to develop strong institutions for engineering education, accreditation, and regulation, which are essential for ensuring high standards of engineering education and the competency of engineers everywhere. The WFEO Model Code of Ethics for engineers is guiding other professional engineering institutions. Engineers are also improving standards to address corruption in engineering to maximize the benefit of infrastructure investments that support sustainable development for all.

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Key facts

108.4 million people have been forcibly displaced by the end of 2022

Outline of a bus, viewed from the side, with visible details like windows and wheels, promoting sustainable cities as a vital component of communities aligned with SDG 11.

This is 2.5 times the number a decade ago

There were 458,000 homicides in 2021, a 20-year high

Illustration of a stylized skull wearing a suit with lines radiating from it, set against a green background, symbolizes justice and the strength found in institutions.

9 in 10 victims were male

Nearly 200,000 trafficking victims were detected worldwide

Silhouette of a person sitting with head in hands, conveying a sense of distress or contemplation against a light background, highlighting the silent plea for peace and strong institutions.

between 2017 and 2020, but many more likely undetected