Participants in the Fourth World Conference on Women share a headset to listen to the proceedings in Beijing, China in 1995. UN/DPI 061727/Chen Kai Xing. All rights reserved.Participation of citizens in deciding their future is fundamental to achieving inclusive societies and is a critical element of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at its core, the Agenda – which was adopted by 193 countries in 2015 – set out a plan of action that seeks to end poverty, combat inequalities and protect the environment in all countries.
It aims to achieve development in an integrated way – economically, socially and environmentally – that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to participate in the processes that impact their lives.
Of these goals, SDG 16 specifically aims at building peaceful and inclusive societies, providing access to justice for all and developing accountable institutions, while ensuring participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. Since the adoption of the Agenda, countries have started using various foresight exercises to set their own national targets guided by the global level of ambition to meet the SDGs.
