https://tapnetwork2030.org/romedeclaration/
The Transparency, Accountability, and Participation (TAP) Network is a broad international coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) working together to advance SDG16+ to promote peace, justice, and inclusive societies, and to help enhance accountability for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The TAP Network includes hundreds of civil society organizations operating in every region of the world, with TAP’s work evolving to not only coordinate collective global advocacy on behalf of its members, but to also provide indirect or direct support to its members to advance SDG16+ and SDG accountability in their own contexts.
The 2019 Declaration “Amplified Commitments and Partnerships for Accelerated Action: Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+” received endorsement from over 130 civil society organizations and networks. As SDG16 was reviewed for the second time at UN HPLF 2021, the Rome Declaration was revisited in 2021. The Rome Declaration 2.0 “A Renewed Call for Strengthening Commitments, Partnerships, and Accelerated Action for SDG16+” was endorsed by 215+ civil society stakeholders, and looked specifically at the impacts of COVID-19 on the promotion of just, peaceful and inclusive societies.
Why is it relevant now?
In 2022, further inputs from civil society are required to update the previous versions of the Declaration, in light of the backsliding on SDG16+ produced by tectonic geopolitical developments and persistent crises, such as the invasion of Ukraine, recent coups in West-Africa, COVID-19, and many others. Building upon the relevant issues already included in previous versions of the Rome Declaration, reflecting on the impact of current crises on SDG16+ will enable civil society to accordingly pinpoint entry points needed in the context of next year’s key events, including the 2023 SDGs Summit and the planned “Summit of the Future” as alluded to in Our Common Agenda (OCA) report. Although the HPLF in 2022 will not review SDG16, continuous attention for supporting more peaceful, just and inclusive societies appears crucial to bolster progress in the implementation of other goals reviewed in 2022 and the 2030 Agenda in general.
Consultation on 2022 Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+
Share your priorities and recommendations for advancing SDG16+ to provide inputs for the 2022 update to the Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+. These consultations come during a time of backsliding progress towards SDG16+, exacerbated by tectonic geopolitical developments and persistent crises created by the invasion of Ukraine, recent coups in West-Africa, COVID-19, and many others challenges faced by civil society partners.
The 2021 Rome Declaration
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.
