Sustainable Development Goal-16 is dedicated to the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, the provision of access to justice for all and building accountable institutions at all levels.
The first step to fulfilling any aspect of the global sustainable development agenda for 2030 will begin with restoring security and human rights to individuals whose very lives and basic freedoms are under threat either due to direct violence or through institutional restrictions to justice.
Violence is perhaps the most significant and destructive challenge to the development, growth, wellbeing, and the very survival of countries around the world. Fatalities resulting from armed conflict are rising in some parts of the world, causing mass displacement within countries and across borders, and resulting in massive humanitarian crises that adversely impact every aspect of our developmental efforts. Other forms of violence–crime and sexual and gender based violence–also remain a global challenge.The institutional violence of unaccountable legal and judicial systems, and depriving people of their human rights and fundamental freedoms all constitute forms of violence and injustice.
If we talk about the solutions of these problems then National and global institutions have to be more transparent and effective, including local governance and judicial systems which are critical to the guarantee of human rights, law and order, and security. We must work in the direction to reduce illicit financial and arms flows and combat all forms of organised crime. We have to develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels, ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels. We must broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance, strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international co-operation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.
In India, the judiciary is overburdened due to the large number of pending cases. India has prioritised the strengthening of justice through government initiatives including Pragati Platform, a public grievance redressal system, and the Development of Infrastructure Facilities for the Judiciary including Gram Nyayalays for villages.
To strengthen the judiciary in India and achieve Sustainable Development Goal 16, we need to do significant work towards legal inclusion for which
better systems for partnership among
international organizations, policy makers and funding organizations, research institutions; Universities; statistical agencies, humanitarian and development agencies, lawyers, legal and/or human rights organizations have to be developed.
Reforms are very important to restore the trust of the common man in the judiciary. Unfortunately, there are some corrupt legal officials, spoiling the sanctity of justice, which comprises of a high percentage of corrupt, blackmailer, extortionist, dishonest, crooked and coward lawyers, indulging in malpractices who misuse their profession and are constantly moving to stigmatize the law system.
It should be made mandatory to blacklist such legal attorneys/lawyers who make fun of the law, exploit the common people by making false accusations. Their law degrees and license must be declared null and void by Bar Council.
Stringent laws are necessary for action against ‘Uncle Judges’. The current appointment process of judges in the judiciary, i.e. the collegium system, needs to be churned.
In order to achieve legal inclusion, comprehensive legal empowerment schemes will also have to be worked out for which various solution-based programs have to be designed. This includes all stakeholders who can take strong steps to implement sustainable and inclusive solutions to meet the legal needs of marginalized groups and excluded communities.
Also, a Progress Monitoring Framework for Legal Inclusion Mapping has to be prepared which can be evaluated periodically. If the above strategies are implemented in a strong manner, the dream of achieving SDG-16 will turn into a reality soon.