Legal Guide to the Sustainable Development Goals
Description
The research, drafting, review and dissemination stages are outlined in a detailed Concept Note and a Programme Plan with clearly defined processes. Initial guided drafting will be conducted by 9 research teams from 9 international law firms who applied through a rigorous application to assist with this initiative. Following this initial research, the drafts will be reviewed internally by A4ID's policy team, fact checking and gap filling. The drafts will then pass through an academic review with subject matter experts and also through a thematic development organisation review followed by a second internal review. Advocates for International Development (A4ID) will operationalise and supervise this process and also contribute directly to the research and drafting.
The final deliverable document will be made freely available on the internet through A4ID, partner law firms and NGOs and other organisations identified in the dissemination plan.
This is a research and writing project that will be governed by Advocates for International Development (A4ID), a registered charity in the UK. The work will be undertaken by the Policy department. Please see the implementation section below for further information on process. The project aims to: Raise awareness of linkages between legal frameworks and the SDGs and highlight the role of the law and the legal community in implementation. Encourage and facilitate decision makers’ and stakeholders’ utilisation of legal mechanisms to advance sustainable development by illustrating key legal challenges and opportunities. Provide a reference point for lawyers and NGOs practicing or interested in one of the development areas to encourage consideration of the direct and indirect impacts of the law. Illustrate key steps to be taken by the legal community within their national context and within their daily business activities to ensure they are not obstructing the achievement of the SDGs and are instead contributing positively.
A4ID has been working in the field of law and development for over 10 years. A4ID recently held over-subscribed seminars in London and New York to highlight some of the linkages between the law and sustainable development. This \'legal guide\' programme has since received significant support from our partners in the legal and development communities across several countries, particularly in the UK, India and Kenya. We have received commitment of strong voluntary assistance from several organisations. \r\n\r\nWe partner with over 650 NGOs and social enterprises, and with law firms and companies giving us access to over 53,000 lawyers in over 100 countries. We connect suitable lawyers to development organisations to provide advice and assistance on a broad range of legal areas free of charge (pro bono). We also run training for lawyers and law students on how the law intersects with development. Our thought leadership work explores how the core business activities of law firms can be shaped by a better understanding of their place in society and their potential impact on vulnerable communities worldwide, for example, we have led work on the application by law firms of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, including a guide for the legal community which can be accessed on our website along with other resources.
Other Partners: Oxfam; Lexis Nexis; Namati and the Commonwealth Secretariat as well as multiple international development organiations.
SDGS & Targets
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
16.1
Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
16.1.1
16.1.2
16.1.3
Proportion of population subjected to (a) physical violence, (b) psychological violence and/or (c) sexual violence in the previous 12 months
16.1.4
Proportion of population that feel safe walking alone around the area they live after dark
16.2
End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children
16.2.1
Proportion of children aged 1–17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers in the past month
16.2.2
16.2.3
Proportion of young women and men aged 18–29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18
16.3
Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
16.3.1
Proportion of victims of (a) physical, (b) psychological and/or (c) sexual violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized conflict resolution mechanisms
16.3.2
16.3.3
Proportion of the population who have experienced a dispute in the past two years and who accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism, by type of mechanism
16.4
By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime
16.4.1
16.4.2
16.5
Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
16.5.1
16.5.2
16.6
Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels
16.6.1
16.6.2
Proportion of population satisfied with their last experience of public services
16.7
Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
16.7.1
Proportions of positions in national and local institutions, including (a) the legislatures; (b) the public service; and (c) the judiciary, compared to national distributions, by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups
16.7.2
16.8
Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance
16.8.1
Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations
16.9
By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration
16.9.1
16.10
Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements
16.10.1
16.10.2
16.a
Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime
16.a.1
16.b
Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development
16.b.1
SDG 14 targets covered
| Name | Description |
|---|
Deliverables & Timeline
Resources mobilized
Partnership Progress
| Title | Progress Status | Submitted |
|---|---|---|
| Partnership Progress 2016-04-19 | On track |
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Contact Information
Yasmin Batliwala, CEO