Report on “The Silver State” and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

A new literary work by author and attorney Gabriel Urza, titled “The Silver State,” is scheduled for presentation on August 14. An analysis of the novel’s themes indicates a significant alignment with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning justice, institutional integrity, and education.

Thematic Analysis and Connection to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The narrative of “The Silver State” directly interrogates the efficacy and equity of legal systems, a core component of SDG 16. The plot follows a public defender, Santi, who represents a man, Michael Atwood, convicted of murder and sentenced to death based on minimal evidence. The case highlights systemic failures that undermine the goal of providing justice for all.

The novel’s exploration of justice systems reflects key targets within SDG 16:

• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice. The story questions whether justice was served, as the protagonist becomes convinced he defended an innocent man, pointing to a failure in ensuring equal access to a fair trial.
• Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions. The narrative describes a “rushed trial” resulting from “intense pressure on the police,” illustrating a lack of accountable and transparent institutional processes in the face of public pressure.
• Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions. The public defender’s office is central to the plot, showcasing the challenges faced by institutions designed to uphold the rights of the accused.

The central conflict, which forces a re-examination of the case years later, underscores the moral ambiguities and potential for grave error within the justice system, prompting critical reflection on the strength and fairness of these institutions.

Exploration of Societal Issues and SDG 5: Gender Equality

The inciting incident of the novel is the murder of a young mother, Anna Weston. This element of the plot can be viewed through the lens of SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls. The brutal murder of a female character serves as a narrative catalyst but also reflects the pervasive societal issue of violence against women, a key concern addressed by this SDG target.
2. The focus on the public’s “obsession with Anna’s disappearance” highlights how cases involving female victims are often framed within public discourse, touching upon the societal dimensions of gender and violence.

Author’s Contribution to SDG 4: Quality Education

The author, Gabriel Urza, contributes to the discourse on sustainable development not only through his writing but also through his professional roles as an attorney and a university professor in an MFA program.

• Target 4.7: Ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. Through his fiction, which tackles complex themes of justice, systemic failure, and morality, Urza provides cultural material that fosters critical thinking. As an educator, he directly contributes to equipping learners with the capacity for nuanced analysis of societal structures, aligning with the educational goals of promoting a culture of peace, non-violence, and global citizenship.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is central to the article as the described novel, “The Silver State,” directly confronts issues within the legal and justice system. The plot revolves around a criminal defense attorney, a public defender’s office, a murder trial, a potential wrongful conviction, and a death sentence. The narrative explicitly explores themes of “systemic failure,” the “deals that get cut in the name of justice,” and questions the integrity of legal institutions, which are the core concerns of SDG 16.

2. Specific Targets

1. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   The article highlights a scenario where equal access to justice is compromised. The protagonist, Santi, works in the “public defender’s office,” an institution designed to provide legal representation to those who cannot afford it. The case involves a man “convicted on scant physical evidence” and subjected to a “rushed trial” due to “intense pressure on the police.” The lawyers’ belief that they were “defending an innocent man” points directly to a failure in providing equal and effective justice.

2. Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

   The article implies a critique of the accountability and effectiveness of justice institutions. The phrase “systemic failure” is a direct reference to this. The “intense pressure on the police to make an arrest” leading to a “rushed trial” suggests that institutions (police and courts) may be operating without full accountability or transparency, prioritizing quick results over due process.

3. Implied Indicators

• Prevalence of wrongful convictions: The central plot point of the defense attorneys becoming “increasingly convinced they were defending an innocent man” who was later “sentenced to death” serves as a powerful narrative indicator of failures within the justice system. The potential for an innocent person to be on “death row” is a critical measure of a system’s fallibility.
• Adherence to fair trial standards: The article implies a lack of adherence to these standards. The description of a “rushed trial” and a conviction based on “scant physical evidence” suggests that due process was not followed, which is a key indicator for measuring access to justice and the rule of law.
• Effectiveness of public legal aid services: The story is told from the perspective of a public defender, highlighting the challenges and moral costs associated with the role (“idealism is soon worn away,” “all that it has cost him – love, family, and friendship”). This implies a focus on the state and effectiveness of the public defender system, an institution crucial for providing access to justice.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

4. Table of Findings

Source: nuggetnews.com