A Renewed Call for Strengthening Commitments, Partnerships, andAccelerated Action for SDG16+
2021 Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+Preamble
The COVID-19 pandemic is an inflection point for humanity. Unfortunately, the main issues that were brought tothe fore in the broadly supported 2019 Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+ have remained valid and insome cases been exacerbated, while those same structural injustices and inequalities that impacted the lives ofpeople living in vulnerable situations before the crisis now determine who suffers most from it. The trickle-down
effect of the pandemic means that it has been especially devastating for women, people of color, the LGBTQI+
community, and the world's poorest - globally, not only health is impacted, but also peace, justice andaccountability.
COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns, alongside crackdowns on civil society and civic space, have led to declines
in trust in institutions. Tensions have risen, both at home, as well as in regions of conflict and fragility, leaving
the already vulnerable in the most destitute of situations. Overall, the explosion of rights violations, conflict, andinequitable pandemic response has put the world further behind to achieving sustainable development.
This 2021 Addendum to the original Rome Declaration therefore serves as a firm and urgent reminder for theglobal 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.

A Renewed Call to Action
The world will not recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic, unless we are able to empower individuals andensure a “people-centered” recovery. Fortunately, the Sustainable Development Goals offer a ready-maderoadmap to resilient recovery from COVID-19, already agreed to by 193 governments. We now simply - buturgently - need to adhere to it.
In particular the delivery of the targets of SDG16+ are vital for a just and equitable COVID-19 response andrecovery, as well as to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda. SDG16+ can reduce structural inequalities andrebuild trust between governments and people, making societies more resilient to future shocks and crises.
Throughout the pandemic, civil society groups around the world have continued to localize SDG16+ and work
toward peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. Civil society groups have put themselves at risk to provide vital
support to communities, to spread public health messaging and ensure last mile health care delivery, to improve
public services, to promote social cohesion by countering misinformation and to stand up for fundamental
freedoms and the rights of all people facing injustices.

We, as civil society, have retained our collective commitment to SDG16+ implementation. Alluding to the“Amplified Commitments and Partnerships for Accelerated Action: Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+”
issued in 2019, we now reiterate our call upon all actors - especially Member States and international agencies to step up their actions and investments for peaceful, just and inclusive societies worldwide. Actors should use
the 2021 UN HLPF, and subsequent HLPFs, to announce and deliver upon ambitious commitments that localize
SDG16+, including by harnessing the role of civil society in advancing these efforts. Undoubtedly, achieving
SDG16+ underpins the possible achievement of all Sustainable Development Goals.

Key Recommendations
COVID-19 Response, Recovery and Resilience through an SDG16+ Lens
While progress to push back the COVID-19 pandemic has seen positive developments in recent months for many
countries, significant challenges still remain for the vast majority of countries and the world’s population. The
discrepancy between responses, resources and vaccine access to-date has shown the vast and dramatic
inequalities that exist between countries. For the world to overcome this COVID-19 crisis, the international
community must take the approach that “no one is safe until everyone is safe”, and double-down on investments
in developing countries.
1) We urge governments to actively partner and collaborate closely with and support civil society and othernon-state actors, for only an integrated and holistic approach can achieve sustainable peace, development
and recovery from this multifaceted, COVID-19 pandemic.
2) In this effort, public-private partnerships are key. Strong multi-stakeholder and multi-sector partnerships do
require leadership from governments, but often still lack crucial on-the-ground knowledge as well as
access to and engagement of local grassroots organisations and movements.
3) Governments must ensure that existing inequalities between countries are not exacerbated by the COVID19 pandemic, including in regards to equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. Equitable vaccine distribution
provides a critical litmus test for the international community around efforts to “Leave No One Behind.”
4) Governments must also ensure that COVID-19 response and recovery is people-centered, and make special
efforts to reach communities that have historically been left behind, including but not limited to women,
young people, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, people of color, the LGBTQI+ community, theworld's poorest and others.
5) Governments and corporations developing COVID-19 vaccines must scale up access for vaccines fordeveloping countries, and provide them at-cost or for no-cost to countries, striving to reach those furthest
behind first. Cost of vaccines or COVID-19 treatment should never influence which countries or which
individuals receive access to these life-saving resources.
6) Governments should agree on a temporary TRIPS waiver through the WTO to enable certified companies indeveloping countries to produce COVID-19 vaccines in local factories. Furthermore, know-how andtechnology transfer via WHO's C-TAP (COVID-19 Technology Access Pool) needs to be stimulated bygovernments in order to enable companies to share rights, knowledge and technology behind the currently
available vaccines.

Pursue integrated approaches and interlinkages for inclusive results
With SDG16+ underpinning progress towards the entire 2030 Agenda, as it interlinks with all other SDGs, it iscritical for the international community to utilize SDG16+ as a lever for implementing the entirety of the 2030
Agenda. Governments must take an SDG16+-centric approach to the response, recovery and resilience from theCOVID-19 pandemic, and ensure that these efforts are people-centered.

1) All national development plans and international development support should integrate and prioritise all
relevant SDG16+ targets.
2) Specifically, we call on all actors to:a) Act responsibly and reduce structural inequalities, socially, economically and environmentally.
b) Promote and implement effective international and national policy which optimises the coordinatedTriple Nexus approach to humanitarian aid, development and peace.
c) In the same manner, include the interlinkages between the health challenges of COVID-19 and othersectors, such as peace and conflict, social and economic development, governance, humanitarian needs
etc. in a holistic COVID-19 response, as well as in the implementation approach to the 2030 Agenda.

Mobilize and scale up commitments and investments
With SDG16+ progress backsliding on many fronts today, intensified by the challenges presented by the COVID19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for governments and all stakeholders to reinvigorate commitments both political and financial - in implementing SDG16+ at all levels. This includes commitments by governments toadvance SDG16+ at the national and local levels, as well as supporting civil society and all stakeholders tocontribute in their own contexts.
1) We call on governments to make additional ambitious commitments to mainstream SDG16+ into all
government efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda, and in particular as it relates to the response andrecovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
2) We call on donors to scale up investments to support civil society organizations, grassroots communities andsocial movements, in a time where independent civil society will be critical to building resilience from theCOVID-19 pandemic and any future crises. This support should be scaled up and made increasingly
accessible and flexible, to ensure equitable access to grassroots communities and groups in fragile contexts
that need this support most.

Increase capacity strengthening for implementation
Capacity strengthening needs and gaps among civil society continue to represent one of the primary barriers toaccelerating action around implementing and monitoring SDG16, especially at grassroots and local levels.
Without strong and independent civil society at all levels, any efforts to implement SDG16+ will undoubtedly fallshort.
1) We call on all actors to improve capacity strengthening for civil society to respond to a variety of crises andconflicts, and to address gaps in evidence-based data collection and how to use this for effectively engaging
policymakers and decision-makers.
2) We call on all actors to engage local and grassroots civil society that otherwise are difficult to reach andmobilize, buttressing existing civil society resources and tools to enable these local actors to support
SDG16+ implementation at local levels.

Strengthen data, monitoring, and accountability
Reliable and independent data is critical to examine where progress is lagging behind in implementing SDG16+.
With the rising tide of disinformation and “fake news”, governments and all stakeholders must double-down tosupport robust monitoring and accountability for SDG16+. Additionally, civil society must be empowered to leadthe way in holding governments accountable.

1) In addition to scaling up investments in official statistical systems, we urge all member states and the UNsystem to utilise non-official data in tracking progress towards SDG16+ and the 2030 Agenda, as well asstrengthening and supporting non-official data providers at all levels.
2) Stimulate and empower independent organizations and think tanks to share and fortify research thatvalidates or invalidates official statistical systems and political biases that occur.
3) In order to ensure the needs of groups in the most vulnerable situations are effectively reached, a Human
Rights-based approach that sets clear standards and principles for collecting and analysing data, and that
ensures there is no bias against minorities and traditionally excluded groups on the basis of gender, age,migratory status, race, or sexual orientation and gender identity, is crucial.
4) We urge that where commitments and policies to improve peace, justice, and inclusion are made, they
include budgets for data collection and monitoring and evaluation to inform/monitor these policies andcommitments. This should include not only the gathering of civil society data, but also investments instrengthening the capacities of NSOs through funding, partnerships, and learning exchanges.

Protect civil society and expand civic space
The COVID-19 pandemic has had dramatic effects on civic space throughout many countries and societies, withlockdowns and restrictions impacting basic fundamental political and civic freedoms. Using SDG16+ as a guide,Governments must fulfill their commitment to Leaving No One Behind by significantly expanding civic space andproviding opportunities for civil society to engage in the planning, implementation and monitoring of SDG16+
and the 2030 Agenda.
1) We call on all governments to not only stem the tide of shrinking civic space within many countries andsocieties, but to actively promote and expand civic space and fundamental freedoms at all levels, and for all
people, making a special effort to reach those traditionally marginalized within communities, and thosefurthest behind first.
2) We call on all actors to:a) Hold states accountable for human rights violations and attacks on civil society, especially in the contextof COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictive measures used as justification for reducing civic space.
b) Address issues related to the systematic deterioration of access to information and the protection ofjournalists, particularly in the context of “fake news” and the spread of misinformation during theCOVID-19 pandemic - this also benefits national and social cohesion as a whole.