Our Scans · (LF.16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions · Weekly Summary

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In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
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.

• [New] Russia's already threatening to terminate more UN sanctions mandates that help the Security Council monitor and take action to deter threats to international peace and security. UN News
• [New] U.S. officials have recently warned Beijing against providing indirect aid to the Russian war effort and regularly urge China to wield its influence to help bring about peace in Ukraine. The Moscow Times
• [New] Insights developed by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research show us that a 20% increase in the number of businesses adopting cloud-based business tools in the future could add $7.8 billion to Aotearoa's annual GDP through improved productivity. NZ Herald
• [New] Nicaragua asked the International Court of Justice today to order Germany to halt arms exports to Israel and reverse its decision to stop funding to the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency, saying there is a serious risk of genocide in Gaza. Just Security
• [New] Working together with Ontario businesses and workers, the federal government, municipalities, Indigenous communities, academic institutions, and other key stakeholders, we are going to connect Ontario with global markets to develop an economically sustainable low-carbon hydrogen sector. Ontario.ca
• [New] Foreign Ministry of Germany: Milestone towards a just peace for Ukraine: From today, a register at the Council of Europe will record all the damage Russia has caused with its war of aggression in violation of international law. Ukraine Interactive map - Ukraine Latest news on live
• [New] The anti-corruption policy of Ukraine has two distinct dimensions: 1) the establishment and successful functioning of institutions aimed at investigating and penalizing corrupt deeds; 2) the creation of a regulatory environment with limited opportunities for corruption. BTI 2024
• [New] The present situation in Gaza is catastrophic and that given the international court of justice (ICJ) finding that there is a plausible risk of genocide being committed, the UK is legally obliged to act to prevent it. The Guardian
• [New] The U.S. Department of State defines de-risking as the phenomenon of financial institutions terminating or restricting business relationships with clients or categories of clients to avoid, rather than manage, risk. Council on Foreign Relations
• [New] As Al-Shabaab's methods grow more sophisticated and more lethal, its reach and influence pose an existential threat to Somalia and to international peace and security. ReliefWeb
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far resisted pressure to change course, insisting that Hamas remains an existential threat to Israel that must be destroyed before lasting peace can return. investing.com
• A combination of economic development and selective kinetic measures will in due course promote peace and bring prosperity to Pakistan and also to the region at large. The Express Tribune
• The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology has awarded cooperative agreements totaling $3.6 million aimed at building the workforce needed to safeguard enterprises from cybersecurity risks. NIST
• The European Union's dithering has allowed foreign agent laws to spread in Europe and Central Asia, Human Rights Watch says, increasing the risk to civil society organizations that are already under threat from governments who are seeking to stifle democratic institutions and the free press. RFE/RL
• The Restoring Justice for Ukraine conference will initially focus on damage or destruction of residential property and will open a formal register where Ukrainians can submit compensation claims. DW.COM
• Collaborative efforts among regional and international actors can pave the way for a stable and peaceful Afghanistan, contributing to regional stability and countering the global threat of terrorism. The Diplomat
• Financial institutions around the world recognize the value of tailoring their efforts to address specific risks in their operations. Global Compliance Institute
• The launch of Canada's next National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security will reinforce Canada's work toward inclusive and sustainable peace and security efforts. GAC
• South Korea's efforts in cyberspace not only protect its own democratic institutions but also contribute to the broader defence of democracy worldwide against the rising tide of cyber and informational threats. The Diplomat
• Terrorist groups such as the TTP were a collective threat to regional peace and security, adding that it fully realised the challenge Afghan authorities faced in combating the threat posed by TTP. DAWN.COM
• BRICS support could add a huge emphasis to the calls from South Africa - and Africa more broadly - for UN reforms that ensure more representative and democratic international institutions. University of Cape Town
• Delegations from South Korea and the U.S. specifically called out the dangers of digital technologies like AI being used to produce fake news and disinformation campaigns intended to weaken democratic institutions. New America
• The United States, United Kingdom, and New Zealand accused PRC-state-sponsored cyber threat actors of conducting malicious cyber operations against democratic institutions. Institute for the Study of War

Last updated: 15 April 2024