This document discusses the importance of including peace as a goal in the post-2015 development agenda. It argues that peace is necessary for sustainable development and poverty eradication. While some may be concerned that including peace could securitize development or violate sovereignty, the document responds that peace targets could focus on preventing conflict, be implemented locally, and do not require external intervention. It recommends improving the language and reducing the number of targets for the proposed Goal 16 on peace and governance to make it more measurable and manageable.

1. Building Consensus for Peace in the
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
Presented by Christopher Wakube
Post 2015 Development Agenda
Geneva Declaration, RRC, Nairobi 26 November 2014

2. What do we mean by Peace?
Saferworld’s priority is people – we believe that everyone should be
able to lead peaceful, fulfilling lives, free from violent conflict and
insecurity.
Should include a focus on people in countries currently experiencing or
emerging from violent conflict.
However, mere absence of violence (negative peace) often masks latent
instability.
Countries must reduce the risks of violent conflict by addressing issues
such as governance, justice and equal access to economic opportunities,
in order to build a positive peace that is sustainable.
Violent insecurity (e.g. crime) is also detrimental to both individuals and
societies.
A holistic approach to building sustainable peace should aim to address
all types of conflict, violence and insecurity.

3. WHY SHOULD PEACE BE INCLUDED?
CURRENT LEVELS OF VIOLENCE MUST BE REDUCED
For the first time since World War II, more than 50 million people – more than half of them children –
are currently forcibly displaced
Responding to violence cost US$ 9.46 Trillion in 2012
ERADICATING POVERTY IS IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT PEACE
By 2030, 75% of people in extreme poverty will be living in countries at risk from high levels of violence
PEACE IS A PRIORITY FOR PEOPLE AND GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD
As of November 2014, over 5 million people voted in the my world survey placing ‘protection against
crime and violence’ 5th out of 16 priorities
“… Peace and security are essential for the achievement of the Continent’s development aspirations” the
Common African Positon
VIOLENT CONFLICT AND INSECURITY HAVE PREVENTED ACHIEVEMENT OF THE MDGs
A country that experienced major violence between 1981 and 2005 has a poverty rate 21% higher than a
country which saw no violence
7 countries unlikely to meet a single MDG by 2015 have all been affected by high levels of violence
NO COUNTRY IS INVULNERABLE TO VIOLENCE
Over half a million people die violently every year
London riots in August 2011 cost an estimated £300 million

4. HOW COULD PEACE BE INCLUDED?
1. Peace is about more than the absence of violence – focus
on the drivers of conflict that lead to violence
2. Peace should focus on preventative approaches to conflict
and violence
3. Peace should not lead to coercive approaches to security
4. Peace should be promoted across the development
framework
5. Peace must be broadly owned at country and local level
6. Peace must be universal
7. Focus on outcomes and don’t be prescriptive on mode of
implementation to reach outcome

5. RESPONDING TO CONCERNS ABOUT PEACE
Concern 1: The inclusion of peace will lead to ‘securitisation’ of the
development agenda
Response 1: There is plenty of scope to frame peace related goals
and targets to mitigate any such risk
Concern 2: A goal on peace could lead to the violation of countries’
sovereignty
Response 2: Implementation of the post-2015 framework will occur
at country and local level, so will not legitimise external
intervention
Concern 3: Peace-related targets could translate into new aid
conditionalities
Response 3: Aid conditionalities are a consequence of the
relationship between individual donors and aid recipients

6. RESPONDING TO CONCERNS ABOUT PEACE
Concern 4: Peace is not included in the Rio+20 agenda, which
sets the parameters for post-2015
Response 4: Promoting peaceful societies will strengthen and
build on the Rio+20 agenda for sustainable development
Concern 5: Peace issues are already dealt with by the existing
peace and security architecture
Response 5: Including peace within post-2015 will help reduce
violence and insecurity through a preventative approach that
addresses root causes of conflict
Concern 6: Development leads to peace, not vice-versa
Response 6: Peace is essential for sustainable development, and
vice-versa

7. RESPONDING TO CONCERNS ABOUT PEACE
Concern 7: A goal on peace will only be relevant and applicable to
a minority of countries
Response 7: All Member States have progress to make on peace
Concern 8: Peace targets cannot be measured
Response 8: Peace can be measured – though investment will be
required to strengthen data collecting capacities
Concern 9: The inclusion of peace-related targets will stigmatise
certain countries
Response 9: Post-2015 targets are about highlighting the
challenges that countries face and how they can be addressed –
counties should have ownership about their pace of progress

8. Way Forward Goal 16…
 We need to Protect the goal, Improve target language, Consolidate the number of
targets
 Peace is Measurable – need to support initiatives that demonstrate this
 It is welcome that the targets address the drivers of conflict - central to promoting
positive and sustainable peace which enables development
 It is also welcome that the systemic and global-level factors that drive conflict –
including flows of arms and illicit finance – are addressed
 We also welcome the focus on gender-based violence in Goal 5
 The language of some of the targets can be improved to be more outcome focused,
more measurable and effective
 Reduce the number of targets from 12 to about 8 - more manageable
 Split Goal 16 into two: one goal on peace, one on governance (it is currently on both
issues). However, we realise this is politically difficult.)
 Include missing issues without adding to number of targets e.g. social cohesion, trade
in conflict commodities, transnational issues and people’s safety and access to security

9. Resource Link
http://www.saferworld.org.uk/resources/view-resource/831-from-the-sustainable-
development-goals-to-the-post-2015-development-agenda-building-
a-consensus-for-peace

10. Thank you!