Report on State-Led Initiative to Reinforce International Humanitarian Law and Advance Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Aligning IHL with SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

A new progress report details a global initiative by states to strengthen respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL). This effort is fundamentally aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 16, which seeks to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable institutions. The initiative addresses the urgent need to uphold the Geneva Conventions, which protect civilians and non-combatants, thereby reinforcing the rule of law and reducing violence as targeted by SDG 16.

Key State Proposals and Contributions to Global Goals

Participating states have put forward concrete proposals that directly contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals. These proposals aim to translate legal obligations into practical actions that safeguard humanity during armed conflict.

1. Enhanced Military Training and National Frameworks (SDG 4, SDG 16): States advocate for updated military training and the integration of IHL into national legislation. This promotes a culture of peace and non-violence (SDG 4.7) and strengthens national institutions to ensure compliance with international law (SDG 16.a).
2. Strengthened Accountability and Justice (SDG 16): The call for stronger national accountability mechanisms directly supports SDG 16.3 by promoting the rule of law and ensuring equal access to justice for victims of IHL violations.
3. Protection of Medical Facilities and Infrastructure (SDG 3, SDG 11): The initiative specifically addresses concerns about attacks on medical facilities. By exploring ways to strengthen precautions, states are working to protect essential health services, a cornerstone of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). This protection extends to vital civilian infrastructure, which is critical for making human settlements safe and resilient (SDG 11).
4. Integration of IHL into Peace Agreements (SDG 16): States emphasized incorporating IHL rules into peace agreements, a crucial step toward building lasting peace and fostering inclusive societies free from fear and violence (SDG 16.1).

Global Partnership and Participation (SDG 17)

The initiative exemplifies a robust global partnership for sustainable development, as outlined in SDG 17. The collaborative effort underscores a shared commitment to upholding international law and achieving common goals.

• Broad Engagement: Over 130 states have participated in consultations, with 90 states formally joining the initiative.
• Shared Leadership: A total of 27 states are co-leading seven thematic work streams, demonstrating a multi-stakeholder approach to addressing contemporary challenges to IHL.
• High-Level Commitment: Leaders from Brazil, China, France, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and South Africa have issued a joint call for all states to prioritize IHL, urging wider participation and resource allocation.

Conclusion: Upholding Humanity for a Sustainable Future

The report concludes that a renewed commitment to the protective principles of IHL is essential for preventing irreversible human, political, and economic harm. Failure to uphold these rules risks undermining progress toward a peaceful, just, and sustainable world as envisioned by the 2030 Agenda. The global IHL initiative, which will culminate in a high-level meeting in 2026, represents a critical pathway for states to reaffirm their commitment to humanity and collectively advance the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to peace, health, and strong global partnerships.

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article primarily addresses issues related to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This is the most central SDG to the article. The entire text focuses on the initiative to strengthen respect for international humanitarian law (IHL), which is a core component of promoting peace and justice. The article discusses proposals for “stronger national accountability mechanisms,” integrating IHL into “national frameworks through legislation, military and security training,” and promoting the rule of law during armed conflicts. The goal is to reduce violence and protect human rights by ensuring states uphold their legal obligations, which directly aligns with the objectives of SDG 16.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article connects to SDG 3 through its specific mention of protecting healthcare in conflict zones. It highlights “growing concerns about potentially unjustified attacks on medical facilities” and the need to explore “practical ways to strengthen precautions and verify allegations that hospitals are used for military purposes.” Protecting hospitals, medical personnel, and patients is essential for maintaining health services and ensuring well-being, even during wartime.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The article exemplifies SDG 17 by describing a global, multi-stakeholder partnership. It details an initiative founded by states like Brazil, China, and France, which has grown to include the participation of “more than 130 states” in consultations and “90 states formally joining.” This collaborative effort among governments to address a global challenge (IHL violations) and share knowledge is a clear demonstration of a partnership for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s focus, the following specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere. The article’s main purpose is to uphold the Geneva Conventions, which were “designed to shield civilians, prisoners of war, detainees and those no longer taking part in the fighting,” directly contributing to the reduction of violence and death in conflict zones.
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all. The call for states to “integrate IHL into national frameworks through legislation” and create “stronger national accountability mechanisms” is a direct effort to promote the rule of law.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article mentions the call to “empowerment of national IHL committees,” which are national institutions responsible for ensuring compliance with humanitarian law.

2. Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks. Attacks on medical facilities during conflict are a severe health risk. The initiative’s goal to “strengthen precautions” against such attacks aligns with managing and reducing this specific risk to public health infrastructure and access to care.

3. Under SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships. The initiative described, involving a coalition of founding states and the participation of over 130 countries in global and regional consultations, is a clear example of a global partnership mobilizing to achieve a common goal.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicator codes, but it implies several metrics that can be used to measure progress:

• For Target 16.3: A key indicator is the number of states that have successfully integrated IHL into their national legal and military frameworks. The article points to this by highlighting the call for states to “integrate IHL into national frameworks through legislation, military and security training.”
• For Target 16.6: An implied indicator is the number of countries with active and empowered “national IHL committees.” The call to empower these committees suggests their existence and effectiveness are measurable outcomes.
• For Target 17.16: The article provides direct quantitative indicators of partnership engagement. These include the “90 states formally joining the initiative” and the “more than 130 states” that have participated in consultations. The growth in these numbers would indicate progress.
• General Indicator for IHL Compliance (related to 16.1 and 3.d): While not a formal SDG indicator, a reduction in the number of documented IHL violations, such as “unjustified attacks on medical facilities” and harm to civilians, would be the ultimate measure of the initiative’s success. The article’s concern about the “brutality seen in today’s wars” sets a baseline against which future progress can be measured.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: reliefweb.int