ECOSOC Special Meeting - Unleashing the transformative power of SDG16: Improving governance and reducing corruption

The Economic and Social Council convened a special meeting on “Unleashing the transformative power of SDG16: Improving governance and reducing corruption” on 2 May 2023.  The meeting revisited the impact of corruption on the achievement of the SDGs and reflect on persistent challenges as well as emerging trends and innovation in enhancing integrity and combating corruption and furthering SDG 16.  The Council brought together representatives from the public and private sectors as well as civil society, journalists and leading international expert organisations to collectively discuss how to accelerate this agenda and ensure that no one is left behind.

The programme featured a panel discussion with experts, followed by interventions by Member States, UN system entities and civil society organizations. The outcome of the meeting is an informal summary by the ECOSOC President, highlighting key messages and recommendations from the discussions.

This meeting is informing the upcoming 4th “SDG 16 Rome Conference”  hosted by Italy and co-organized with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) under the theme “SDG 16 as a compass for navigating intersecting crises”.

• Summary
• Concept note
• Programme
• Statements
  • Opening Remarks by H.E. Lachezara Stoeva, President of the Economic and Social Council
  • Closing Remarks by H.E. Lachezara Stoeva, President of the Economic and Social Council
  • Statement by Ms. Ghada Waly, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna
  • Statement by Ms. Jan Beagle, Director-General of the International Development Law Organization (IDLO)
• UN News Article (2 May 2023)
• Resources
  • Goal 16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
  • 2023 SDG 16 Conference
  • United Nations Convention against Corruption  
  • Principles of effective governance for sustainable development (developed by the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) and endorsed by ECOSOC in July 2018)