2020 Vision Action Platform for Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions Webinar

September 5, 2018

Co-moderator:  Christina (Australian)  Ulysses Smith, CEO and President of Telus Government Advisors , 2016 SDG Pioneer Goal 16 (American). 

The Agenda

1. Introduction
2. Panel 1: Spirit of Goal 16
3. 2020 Vision Overview
4. Panel 2:  2020 Vision in Practice
5. Q&A
6. Call to Action
7. Close

WEBINAR CLICK HERE:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rBluZ-6FOo&feature=youtu.be 

PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS

Notes:

• Purpose of the webinar vision milestone and impacts of the action platform for peace, justice and strong institutions
• launched U  private sector forum on the margins of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York
• Call to action for business, governments, civil society and others to join the action platform and contribute over 2-3 years – 2020 vision
• See slide – When heard or read about:
  • rampant bribery, corruption and illicit financial flows
  • rising civil unrest and violent conflict
  • undermining of democracy and the rule of law
  • threat to fundamental freedoms including decent work, privacy and self determination
  • Attacks on freedom of expression and journalistic integrity including deaths of activists and journalists (deaths not on slide)
  • And overall lack of trust in corporations, institutions and politicians
• Headlines in increasing number of countries
• Not time like the present to find common ground and commonality for a force for good in addressing these issues

Ulysses comments on the spirit of Goal 16

• Panelists representing stakeholder groups
  [not accurate there as representation is very complex, diverse and global]
• Context:  SDG 101 – in 2015 September with the adoption of the SDG all 193 member states of UN made commitment over next 15 years to working towards a world we all want. 
• (Do we actually know what the consensus is here?)
• Known as the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development. Goal 16 of the SDGs promoting peaceful and inclusive socialites for sustainable societies, the development provision of justice for all and building effective accountable institutions at all levels. 
• It is clear that Goal 16 is among the most ambitious and broad ranging of the 17 SDGs it seeks to address challenges ranging from more procedural variety including effective accountable and transparent public institutions and promotion of the rule of law to more substantive objectives including corruption organised crime and the discrimination in the protection of fundamental freedoms.
• That said it cannot be overstated that achieving Goal 16 is essential to fostering responsible and sustainable business building inclusive and stable societies and achieving the SDGs more broadly.
• (business emphasised here, could be argued that business corruption is a key issue.)
• As many of you may know Goal 16 was one of the most contested and politically sensitive of the SDGs during the process to get them it is for this reason that the UN Global Compact in consultation with business, governments and civil society is seeking to adopt a holistic approach to how Goal 16 relates to both governments and businesses [didn’t mention civil society here].
• Well this may seem unconventional given the particular themes under SDG 16 that they are inherently the duty of government much like the UN guiding principles on business and human rights there is also an inherent responsibility to do no harm with respect to culture, strategies, operations, relationships what we might think of corporate governance at the same time responsible businesses encouraged to make a positive contributions to, among other things, public policy dialogue and public-private partnerships, what we might think of as global governance. Within this context I’d like to turn to our panelists.
• Olajobi Makinwa, Chief of Intergovernmental Relations and Africa and UN Global Compact.  Think of why business should be involved in working on Goal 16 in a bigger way.
• Sarah Fantoli-Frommelt, Public Policy Regulations Manager at Nestle.  Provide business perspective.
• Katja Bechtel, Head of Business Integrity at Transparency International.  Why business should take proactive role in fighting corruption as element and progressing SDGs more generally.
• Note:  No civil society representation in respect of wholistic peace
• Ulysses question: from your perspective why do you think it is important business to engage Goal 16 in SDGs. … big and robust way?
• Olajobi : Governments are interested in private sector doing business in a responsible manner conflicts of trade in society.  Primary duty of governments to ensure SDGs are implemented and lift people out of poverty which is what Agenda 2030 is about.  Private Sector has a place to ensure rule of law and not involved in corruption etc.  Trust brought back and respect is important for companies to do business in a sustainable manner.  Role for business to play…. no one left behind… need to transform business and government… working collectively…attractiveness to the private sector especially in development countries, ensuring accountable, strong institutions translate theory into practice and reality…  Founded on integrity, transparency, independence, efficiency lead to trust in the private sector in the government and trust of the people who rely on them.  Need to bring trust back… Goal 16 the platform…work together…lifted out of poverty.  
• Ulysses: values and objectives that underlay Goal 16. Goal 16 is a goal that has particular relevance for the business community.  All factors strong environment for business strong sustainability and business success.  From Nestle’s perspective why it is in business strong interests to engage in Goal 16.
• Sarah:  Nestle, Legal Department: legal and sustainability in creating shared values.  Why crucial for business to engage in Goal 16:  3 ideas on why? 
• 1. business case private sector engagement in peace, justice and strong institutions. These are core for sustainable business they are the foundation not only for business responsibility but also business success.  SDG 16 includes a number of factors directly stable business environment and contribute to peaceful and inclusive societies.  For companies and operating environment which is governed by strong corporate governance and the rule of law provides the basis for commercial certainty and foundation for long term investment and growth and sustainable development in which all people can flourish.
• 2. Nowadays around the world businesses be they small big global or local increasingly recognising the interdependence of commercial success and sustainable development.  investors are demanding that business align these 2 objectives and another reason why business should engage in this goal.
• 3. Adoption of SDGs there is a growing recognition that business can play a vital role in advancing good governance and SDG Goal 16.  Serving as a complement and not a substitute for government action.  We need to collaborate.  Very important point – crucial that business collaborate with governments, UN institutions and civil society on this matter – only through collaboration of these parties can we achieve the SDG 16 objectives sustainably.  Goal 16 builds the basis to have these conversations with various stakeholders and to be a credible and responsible partner.  Goal broad and complex, getting this right serve as an enabler and  catalyst to all other SDGs so for all these reasons, only mentioned a few, business should engage.
• Nestle approach, legal department, passionate about this matter.  We saw that lawyers and compliance officers can play a key role in promoting the rule of law and business integrity.  Doing in a silo is not enough, legal functions need to bridge out beyond departments across all management levels up to the board, make Goal 16 part of the corporate DNA. Only then can we ensure a strong corporate governance.  We are not only active within the company at Nestle create awareness through various external activities advance the cause. We believe to have the greatest impact the UN MDG is the right partner to do so there is no other space that builds connections between all stakeholders, government, UN, civil societies and businesses – national and international levels, use a principle based approach.  We chose to be patron for the action platform for peace, justice and strong institutions.  encourage colleagues to join this cause and action platform for peace, justice and strong institutions.  It is so important we cannot remain passive.  needs to happen in collaboration with government and other partners.  Call for action for everybody today.  
• Ulysses: Rich perspective from business side and reflecting both the internal and external ways businesses can be engaging with the issues.  Action Platform as a unique form.  Katja come to you know perspective from Transparency International on civil society’s views regarding broader business engagement and opportunities for business from corruption and broader goals 16 perspective, over to you
• Note:  [Transparency International would not be able to represent civil society globally as they are focused on corruption not broader issues that civil society would raise.] 
• Katja:  Thank you.  Remarks on Goal 16.  Launch of Action Platform.  TI engaging on Global Compact for many years particularly on principle 10 and member of the board.  Support Action platform as a partner.  Why is Goal 16 so important for business.  Important to business without a major and blunt contribution of the business community Goal 16 will not be achieved. From TI’s perspective Goal 16 is the key goal because it addresses corruption and bribery which is an issue which cuts across all other SDGs.
• We strongly believe in tackling corruption and bribery but in the same way to build strong institutions the rule of law is a prerequisite for achieving all other SDGs.  Business in particular those acting globally understand very well and better than others about possible effects of corruption on business, not only on bottom lines and on society at large. Businesses have seen first hand that corruption erodes trust in public and private institutions, creates inefficiencies in procurement processes, not least it now threatens democracy which is one of the key challenges of our days. 
• Engaging in Goal 16 provides opportunity to create a awareness about the links between corruption, justice, strong institutions, human rights and peace and how business, governments and civil society can act collectively to address them. 
• I believe the story of Goal 16 has not been properly told from a business perspective.  It is something we can achieve with working on this action platform. 
• Goal 16 not received attention it should and when we work on this by creating attention for Goal 16 this goal can become a very powerful driver for the whole SDG framework. 
• We need the expertise the experience of business to unpack this goal to make it action level to make it concrete to create awareness about its key functions in the SDG framework. With the review process of goal 16 coming up in 2019 we have a unique opportunity to create visibility of Goal 16 and to also ask the business community to contribute to the review process. TI is engaged in review process we are producing shadow reports to the official UN reports provides perspective specifically on corruption. Happy to see how business can be come more involved in these and other processes.  I close here.  
• continues (22.04)