Pathways to Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions at the 2024 Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue

Sustainable Development Goal 16 of the United Nations-adopted 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda outlines a vision of a world anchored in commitments to build more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies. By addressing issues of conflict, injustice, and weak governance systems, SDG 16 lays the foundation for sustainable development and the achievement of other SDGs. Yet progress on many Goal 16 targets has been stagnating and, in some cases, even regressing. Identifying actionable steps to mobilize successful models for meeting Goal 16 targets was the primary focus of the second annual Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue (TASD).

Held from April 25-26 at the State Palace in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, the TASD gathered government officials, scholars, and practitioners from across the United States, Asia, and the Altai region to expedite action on SDG 16. The event, organized by the State Great Hural (Parliament) of Mongolia along with APARC and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future, is a sub-regional convening of the annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue, a joint effort of APARC and the Ban Ki-moon Foundation.

This year’s second annual Trans-Altai Sustainability Dialogue builds on networks and partnerships established at the June 2023 inaugural subregional Dialogue, which focused on promoting gender equality (SDG 5). Throughout the event, participants explored strategies to strengthen the capacity of local, state, and global institutions to reduce conflict and inequalities, enhance justice accessibility, and promote fair governance.

In his opening remarks, APARC Director Gi-Wook Shin, the William J. Perry Professor of Contemporary Korea, underscored the critical importance of expediting action on SDG 16 at a time marked by eroding confidence in public institutions and widespread social, economic, and political division.

"It is imperative to rebuild trust in the public sphere and strengthen the capacity of institutions to facilitate the transition to sustainable development,” Shin said, adding that “the challenges before us are formidable but not insurmountable.”

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The presence of Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the 8th secretary-general of the UN, reaffirmed the commitment of the Ban Ki-moon Foundation For a Better Future to the Dialogue's objectives. As the chief architect of the 2030 Agenda and a tireless advocate for peace and justice, Mr. Ban underscored the importance of collective action in addressing the world's most pressing challenges.

Other speakers included Zandanshatar Gombojav, chairman of Mongolia’s Parliament, and dignitaries and panelists from the United States and multiple regions across Asia, including Azerbaijan, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

Stefanie Burri, head of the Swiss Cooperation Office and Consular Agency in Mongolia and consul general, described transparency as a necessary element in realizing SDG 16 and in fighting injustice, suggesting that “by providing people with access to information and education, we empower them to advocate for their rights and hold institutions accountable. We must also prioritize peacebuilding efforts, recognizing that sustainable development cannot flourish in the shadow of conflict.”

Panel topics throughout the conference included addressing structural injustices and inequalities, building strong governance and effective institutions, broadening and strengthening developing countries' participation in global governance institutions, and promoting the role of international and regional organizations in advancing SDG 16. In addition to Shin, the Stanford delegation to the TASD included APARC associate director for program and policy Cheryll Alipio and Stanford Next Asia Policy Lab (SNAPL) postdoctoral fellow Junki Nakahara. 

In a world where structural injustices, inequalities, and human rights challenges are putting peaceful and inclusive societies further out of reach, the principles of SDG 16 are even more vital for fostering resilience and cooperation at national and international levels. SDG 16 serves as a key principle in creating a world where people can live free from fear, discrimination, and violence, and where justice and inclusivity are upheld as fundamental principles of society.

TASD coverage is available via the Mongolian Parliament’s website.

Stay tuned for news about the third annual Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue, to be held on Stanford’s campus in the 2024 autumn quarter.