Definitions of Peace, Security, and Strong Institutions under SDG 16
Peace in the context of SDG 16 is defined as a foundational prerequisite for social and economic development, referring not merely to the absence of armed conflict, but also to an environment free from violence, discrimination, fear, and insecurity in daily life. It encompasses both negative peace—absence of war and violent conflict—and positive peace—presence of justice, equity, and respect for human rights, as well as conditions enabling individual and collective well-being.
Security is a state in which individuals and communities are free from threats, fear, and intimidation, ensuring safety from all forms of violence, exploitation, and crime. Human security extends beyond protection from violence to include freedom from want, disease, poverty, and deprivation, guaranteeing the essential freedoms necessary for dignity and survival.
Strong Institutions denote effective, accountable, transparent, and inclusive bodies at all levels of government and public administration. Such institutions uphold the rule of law, protect human rights, combat corruption, provide fair and equal access to justice, and operate with integrity and responsiveness to public needs, fostering trust and social cohesion within society.
Countries and Regions with the Worst Situations Regarding Peace, Security, and Strong Institutions
The most severe challenges to peace, security, and strong institutions are observed in countries experiencing ongoing or recent armed conflict, protracted crises, or severe governance deficiencies. As of 2025, countries such as Yemen, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, Central African Republic, and Myanmar consistently rank at the bottom of global peace and fragility indices due to combinations of violent conflict, political instability, widespread human rights violations, and weak or collapsed state institutions.
Other countries with critically weak institutions and low security include Turkmenistan, Eritrea, North Korea, Congo, and Mali. These regions are often characterized by authoritarian rule, lack of civil liberties, high civilian casualties, mass displacement, and failed governance structures.
Consequences of Lack of Peace, Security, and Strong Institutions for Populations
Populations in these contexts endure grave and multifaceted consequences:
Widespread Violence and Civilian Casualties: Ongoing armed conflicts result in extremely high rates of civilian deaths and injuries, with children and women disproportionately affected.
Mass Displacement: Tens of millions are forcibly displaced, becoming refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs), often living in precarious, unsafe environments with limited access to resources.
Loss of Access to Justice and Legal Protection: Weak institutions lead to the denial of legal identity (such as birth registration), restricted access to justice, and inability to claim rights or seek redress for abuses.
Human Rights Violations: Pervasive sexual violence, exploitation, trafficking, torture, and arbitrary detention are frequent, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as children, ethnic minorities, and women.
Impaired Development and Humanitarian Crises: Protracted conflict and institutional failure disrupt education, healthcare, and economic systems, leading to poverty, food insecurity, trauma, and social fragmentation.
Psychological and Social Trauma: Communities experience long-term trauma, erosion of trust and cohesion, and weakened mental health due to exposure to violence and chronic insecurity.
How People Survive and Cope with These Negative Impacts
In the absence of effective governance and security, populations employ a range of survival and coping strategies:
Community Resilience and Social Support: People rely on informal networks of family, kinship, and community for material aid, protection, and psychological support.
Humanitarian Aid: Dependence on international humanitarian assistance for basic needs such as food, water, shelter, healthcare, and education is widespread.
Coping Mechanisms: Individuals use religious faith, acceptance, humor, and cognitive restructuring to deal with adversity, while actively seeking problem-solving approaches to daily challenges.
Adaptation and Migration: Some adapt by migrating away from zones of violence, participating in local peacebuilding or reconciliation initiatives, or engaging in informal economies to access resources.
However, these strategies are often insufficient to offset the devastating impacts of insecurity and institutional fragility.
Other Pressing Issues Faced by These Countries and Regions
Beyond the direct effects of conflict and weak institutions, fragile states face additional critical challenges:
Humanitarian Crises: Chronic poverty, food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and lack of basic services are prevalent, made worse by disruptions caused by conflict.
Governance and Corruption: High levels of corruption, lack of accountability, and impunity remain major obstacles to recovery and development.
Economic Instability: Damaged infrastructure, capital flight, high debt burdens, and stalled economies further exacerbate human suffering and limit recovery prospects.
Climate Change and Environmental Risks: In many regions, environmental degradation and climate-related disasters interact with violence and displacement, compounding vulnerabilities.
Gender-Based Violence: Heightened risks of child marriage, sexual violence, and discrimination against women and girls are reported in conflict zones.
UN Institutions Active in Countries with the Lowest Peace, Security, and Weakest Institutions
Multiple UN institutions operate in these fragile states, often in concerted efforts across peacekeeping, humanitarian, human rights, and development domains:
South Sudan United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, OHCHR, WHO, UN Women, FAO, OCHA, UNMAS, UNFPA
Yemen Office of the Special Envoy, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, OHCHR, OCHA, UNDP, WHO
Afghanistan United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR, WFP, UN Women, WHO
Central African Republic United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR (MINUSCA), UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, UNHCR, OHCHR
Sudan/South Sudan UNMISS, OHCHR, WFP, UNDP, UNICEF, UN Women, WHO, FAO
These institutions coordinate peacekeeping, humanitarian relief, human rights monitoring, development assistance, and capacity building for local institutions.
How UN Institutions Support SDG 16 Targets and Which Targets Are Addressed
UN agencies implement a wide breadth of activities addressing nearly all SDG 16 targets in the most fragile settings:
UN Peacekeeping and Political Missions (UNMISS, MINUSCA, UNAMA): Protect civilians, mediate among parties to conflict, support disarmament and demobilization, monitor human rights, and promote reconciliation—directly contributing to SDG 16.1 (reducing violence), 16.2 (ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking), 16.3 (rule of law and justice), 16.6 (strong institutions), and 16.7 (inclusive decision-making).
UNDP: Strengthens governance, public institutions, anti-corruption measures, legal identity systems, and civic engagement addressing 16.5 (corruption), 16.6 (accountable institutions), 16.7 (participatory governance), and 16.9 (legal identity).
UNHCR & UNICEF: Safeguard protection and rights of refugees and children, offer birth registration, education, and psychosocial care, contributing to 16.2, 16.3, and 16.9.
OHCHR: Monitors human rights, supports establishment of independent human rights institutions, and advocates for non-discriminatory laws (targets 16.A, 16.B).
WHO/FAO/WFP: Ensure access to vital health, nutrition, and food security services, essential in contexts where institutions are too weak to provide these basic rights.
Directly Addressed SDG 16 Targets:
16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.
16.3: Promote the rule of law at national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.
16.4: Significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets, and combat all forms of organized crime.
16.5: Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms.
16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.
16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
16.9: Provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.
16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms.
16.A: Strengthen relevant national institutions for building capacity to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.
16.B: Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development.
Through multifaceted efforts—including peacekeeping, humanitarian protection, institution-building, and advocacy—the UN is working to address the interconnected risks of violence, injustice, and fragile governance, aiming to create the enabling conditions necessary for sustainable development and the fulfillment of SDG 16 in the world's most vulnerable regions.
