TAP NetworkTAP NetworkOn 6 May 2024, the TAP Network and Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS) presented the 2024 Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+ titled, “Beyond Rhetoric: Securing SDG 16+ for Peaceful, Just, and Inclusive Societies” at the SDG 16 Conference at UN Headquarters in New York City. After months-long consultation through virtual workshops, survey inputs, and draft revisions, the finalized 2024 Declaration presents a clear call-to-action and set of recommendations for decision-makers to actualize SDG 16+.
You can watch the presentation segment of the conference on WebTV here.
If you haven’t read the declaration already, you can download it here.
The declaration serves as a rallying cry. It calls for key measures that include the recognition of the SDG16 as an enabler for the other SDGs, financial relocation, strengthening data and monitoring, as well as promoting accountability. It underscores the need for recognising the indispensable role of civil society for SDG 16+ and the 2030 Agenda, as well as stating the need for expanding civic space. The 2024 Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+ urges Member States and other stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and good intentions and boldly embrace and implement concrete and genuine commitments.
The upcoming annual SDG16 Conference will be held this year in New York on Monday 12 May 2025. This Conference, and our collective 2025 Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+, will be a key moment and opportunity to highlight the urgency of the international community and Member States to prioritize immediate action on all aspects of SDG16+. Building upon the rich insights from five iterations of the Rome Declaration to-date, this year’s version will look to address some of the pressing challenges that this year has presented, including around existential threats to civil society, dramatic funding cuts for development and peacebuilding, and a rise in violent conflicts on many fronts. This provides an important opportunity for the 2025 Rome Declaration to help provide an urgent call-to-action to address all of these critical challenges, and more.
Register below. Also complete the consultation survey by 31 March here: bit.ly/RomeDeclaration2025
Thursday 17 April 2025 at 9AM ET / 3PM CET
The 2021 Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+, titled “A Renewed Call for Strengthening Commitments, Partnerships, and Accelerated Action for SDG16+,” is an addendum to the original 2019 Rome Declaration and serves as a firm and urgent reminder for the global community that peaceful, just and inclusive societies are at the core of not only sustainable development, but also sustainable recovery, especially at a time like this. In the midst of a protracted global crisis, the Rome Declaration 2.0, presented at the 2021 HLPF, is a renewed call for accelerated action on SDG 16 and the 2030 Agenda.
The first Rome Declaration in 2019, titled “Amplified Commitments and Partnerships for Accelerated Action: Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+,” outlines key messages, recommendations, and a broad call to action around SDG16+. The Declaration aimed to mobilize accelerated action on SDG 16 at the 2019 HLPF and SDG Summit.
Since the adoption of the Rome Declaration over two years ago, the main issues that it brought to the fore have remained valid, while the same structural injustices and inequalities that impacted the lives of vulnerable people before the COVID-19 crisis now determine who suffers most from it.
Both versions are the product of online and in-person consultation promoted among the civil society networks of TAP Network, Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS), Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) and Namati.
7 July 2021, from 9 AM to 10 AM EST.
“Amplified Commitments and Partnerships for Accelerated Action: Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+” (Rome Declaration) outlines key messages, recommendations, and a broad call-to-action around SDG16+. This Declaration is envisioned to directly feed into the outcomes of the Rome SDG16 Conference, and will be the central focus of our advocacy to encourage accelerated action on SDG16 at the 2019 HLPF in July and the SDGs Summit in September.
The Rome Declaration is the product of an online consultation promoted amongst the TAP Membership and other civil society networks, as well as deliberations during the Rome Conference Civil Society Day on 26 May 2019, just prior to the Rome SDG16 Conference. The extensive process to draft this resolution was guided by three co-facilitators, including Coco Lammers from Namati, Peter van Sluijs from the Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding, and Pascal Richard from the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict.
The Rome Declaration was adopted and presented by civil society in a statement to Members States, international organizations, and other SDG16+ stakeholders at the Rome SDG16+ Conference on 28 May 2016.
Available Languages: English|French|Spanish|Portuguese
Coordinated by:
The Rome Declaration is also endorsed by 300+ Civil Society organizations.
The Rome Declaration is now open for broad endorsements from civil society partners.
In advance of the Rome SDG16 Conference 2019, the TAP Network and International Development Law Organization (IDLO) hosted a pre-conference Civil Society Day (26 May 2019), to provide a space for all civil society participants to coordinate and meet before the Conference, and to draft the Rome Declaration.
In preparation for the 2019 HLPF, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and IDLO, in partnership with the Government of Italy, organized the Rome SDG16 Conference (27-28 May 2019) to take stock of global progress towards achieving the SDG 16.
