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

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] Even remote hearings, lawyers for Rubio added, present a serious risk of intentional interference by anti-American elements in Venezuela that would undermine the interests of justice. The Guardian
• [New] Russian police and National Guard will stay in eastern Ukraine's Donbas even if a peace settlement ends the war, which Ukraine has rejected. Manifold
• [New] Concretely, as long as Russia or Ukraine feel insecure after a ceasefire and peace agreement, there will be no sustainable peace. Toda Peace Institute
• [New] An enduring peace deal between Ukraine and Russia will require a strategic shift in Moscow, a credible set of Western security commitments to Kiev, and a herculean amount of planning and technical expertise. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• [New] The Board of Peace, the new body Trump has established to reconstruct Gaza, could make the West Bank a central logistics hub for producing and assembling humanitarian supplies and, later on, infrastructure. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• [New] The contrast between Czechoslovakia's peaceful Velvet Revolution and Romania's violent regime change offers vital lessons for Americans today about the importance of actively defending legal institutions and norms against authoritarian threats. Reason.com
• [New] While Ukrainian officials are loathe to dismiss Trump's peace efforts for fear incurring his displeasure, a majority of Ukrainians remain utterly unconvinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin has any interest whatsoever in ending hostilities. Atlantic Council
• [New] The U.S. House approved the PROTECT Taiwan Act by a 395-2 vote to exclude China from major international financial institutions if it threatens Taiwan's security. The Asia Cable
• [New] Other Chinese analysts have suggested that with the US exit from more than two dozen United Nations bodies - and Trump's effort to set up a parallel Board of Peace - Europe will simply need China more as an international counterweight. CNN
• [New] The United States' withdrawal from multilateral security institutions, including the potential reduction of its engagement in NATO, poses an existential threat to European defence policy. MILMAG
• [New] As BRICS continues to challenge the dominance of Western-led institutions, Kenya's growing interest reflects a broader shift among developing nations seeking more equitable access to finance, technology, and trade opportunities in a multipolar global economy. bricsgrain
• [New] The gutting and complete elimination of key US institutions of diplomacy and development aid create gaps for other countries to fill and risk diminishing America's influence in the long run. Middle East Institute
• [New] Israel's genocidal war on Gaza reflects a deeper transformation of global politics, warning that the erosion of international institutions has enabled atrocities to unfold with limited accountability. Al Jazeera
• [New] Thailand was finalising the national action plan on women, peace and security for 2024 to 2027, which would focus on women affected by conflict-affected situations. The United Nations Office at Geneva
• [New] The presence of a new government that prioritizes institutions over individuals will offer an opportunity for long-term stability, but it must pass the obstacle of deep-rooted Thai military influence. VOD
• [New] The Board of Peace reflects growing stress on post-war multilateralism, but without legitimacy, inclusiveness, and rule-based authority, it risks deepening fragmentation rather than delivering durable peace. Legacy IAS Academy
• [New] Justice in Ageing will focus on protecting and strengthening access to Medicaid home and community-based services, advancing better-integrated care for people dually enrolled for Medicare and Medicaid, and improving quality of care in congregate settings. Grantmakers In Health
• [New] As artificial intelligence increasingly shapes how organizations evaluate performance, guide conversations, and allocate opportunity, the question facing global institutions is no longer purely technical. FinancialContent
• [New] As Ukraine's domestic production scales and Western nations attempt to build alternative supply chains, China's leverage over battlefield outcomes will become an increasingly central issue in any ceasefire or peace negotiations. DroneXL.co
• [New] For fintechs, financial institutions and technology providers, 2026 will not just be about keeping up with compliance; it will be about positioning early for a more connected, data-driven and real-time financial system. Gowling WLG
• [New] Ukraine will sign a 20-point peace plan with the United States, and a separate document will be signed by the United States and Russia.
• [New] The Syrian government will take over all civilian institutions in Hasakah Province and integrate the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria into Syrian state institutions. Critical Threats

Last updated: 16 February 2026