Author Detail: Khaleeq ur Rahman is an MScN Scholor at Aga Khan University Karachi, he has 5 years of extensive experience in the nursing field including 2 years clinical and 2 years as Head nurse at cardiac surgery ICU 1 year as an Infection control nurse, he has a strong hold on international affairs and have worked with different Human Right organization as a volunteer.
Pursuing peace and justice: A call to Action for SDG 16.
In a world full of injustice and conflict, the pursuit of peace, justice, and strong institutions remains the principal goal for global stability and a peaceful world, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 stands as a portrait of our shared commitment to structure societies founded on the basic principles of fairness, accountability, and the rule of law(ESCAP, 2024). However, as we move towards these moral objectives, we cannot let this dark reality go that the current situation of law and order around the globe, the massacres, the persistent wars, and the greediness of first-world countries are hurdles toward a more peaceful and prosperous world.
These ongoing conflicts across the globe urge the importance of collective efforts toward sustainable goal 16, peace, justice, and strong institutions. From civil war in Syria where 400000 people have died in the past 10 years McIntyre (2020), to the Russia/Ukraine war and from the invasion of the US in Afghanistan to the ongoing genocide in Gaza Palestine, millions of people have lost their lives, thousands of communities are torn apart, and the futures of millions of people are shattered by this violence and instability, these conflicts are not only undermining efforts for socio-economic development but also wearing away the prettiness of global interconnectivity, poverty is at peak peoples are in the state of disparity(Júnior et al., 2022).
To realize the importance of SDG 16 and neutralize the war zones, concreted actions are required both at national and international levels, firstly the stakeholders must prioritize conflict prevention and resolution of the ongoing conflicts through dialogues, and mediating efforts. All the institutions that came into being for these causes including the United Nations Organization (UN), and the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) must play a pivotal role in the process of peace and stability around the globe they must seek answers from those countries who are involved directly in the conflict and also from those who are fueling the wars for their lay interest, international court of justice (ICJ) should take a Suo moto over these conflicts.
At the same time, it is important to address the root causes of conflict including socioeconomic inequalities, marginalization, religious extremism, and structural injustices, The Palestine-Israel war is an example of religious extremism international communities must sit together on a platform like the UN to address these conflicts and make conditions favorable for peace, the most integral component this process should include is the humanitarian assistance and facilitation of post-conflict reconstruction and development.
As we accept the harsh reality of current wars and conflicts around the globe, the thrive for achieving sustainable development goals (SDG 16) has become more pronounced than ever, as a global citizen it is our duty to raise our voices for peace, justice, and strong institutions and work hard toward achieving these goals, strong institutions are of clamant importance as conflicts are likely to arise over different issues but the timely solution for these conflict can save the globe from violence and all individual have the opportunity to thrive in societies founded on the principles of equity and inclusion.
Reference
ESCAP, U. (2024). SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions: promote peaceful and inclusive societies. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12870/6764
Júnior, J. G., de Amorim, L. M., Neto, M. L. R., Uchida, R. R., de Moura, A. T. M. S., & Lima, N. N. R. (2022). The impact of “the war that drags on” in Ukraine for the health of children and adolescents: Old problems in a new conflict? Child Abuse & Neglect, 128, 105602. https://doi.org/://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105602
McIntyre, J. (2020). Syrian Civil War: a systematic review of trauma casualty epidemiology. BMJ Military Health, 166(4), 261-265. https://doi.org/10.1136/jramc-2019-001304
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