Under this major goal, there are 12 targets, the 16.1 of which is “Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.”

●Current Situation

The World

Continuous violence all over the world

Ongoing and new violent conflicts around the world are derailing the global path to peace and achievement of Goal 16. Alarmingly, the year 2022 witnessed a more than 50% increase in conflict-related civilian deaths, largely due to the war in Ukraine As of the end of 2022, 108.4 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide – an increase of 19 million compared with the end of 2021 and two and a half times the number of a decade ago. In 2021, the world experienced the highest number of intentional homicides in the past two decades. Structural injustices, inequalities and emerging human rights challenges are putting peaceful and inclusive societies further out of reach. To meet Goal 16 by 2030, action is needed to restore trust and to strengthen the capacity of institutions to secure justice for all and facilitate peaceful transitions to sustainable development.

Source: United Nations

China

Security index of China increases

Photo: Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China

In 2023, the number of public security cases investigated and dealt with nationwide was basically the same as in 2022, and the number of criminal cases decreased by 4.8% compared with 2022, and the social security situation nationwide continued to remain stable.

In 2023, public security agencies across the country persisted in cracking down on more than 1,900 Mafia-like gangs, cracking 29,000 criminal cases of various kinds. The agencies deployed and promoted border police law enforcement cooperation in response to China-related telecommunication network fraud crimes in northern Myanmar, and carried out multiple rounds of crackdown operations, and relevant local law enforcement departments in northern Myanmar handed over a total of 41,000 criminal suspects to China, achieving remarkable results for the crackdown work. 

The public security agencies cracked 19,000 cases of food and drug safety crimes and arrested 28,000 criminal suspects; carried out an in-depth anti-narcotics campaign to “clean up the source and cut off the flow” and cracked 39,000 drug cases, arrested 66,000 criminal suspects, and seized 243 tons of various drugs.

In addition, the public security agencies carried out a summer public security campaign to crack 566,000 criminal cases, investigate and deal with 2,042,000 public security cases, and arrest 975,000 suspects of violating the law.

In March 2022, the Ministry of Public Security launched a special campaign to combat the crime of abduction and trafficking of women and children, immediately initiating a rapid search mechanism for women suspected of being abducted and abused, and for missing minors, a responsibility system was strictly implemented to strive to solve all existing cases and cases of child theft and robbery. In August 2022, the Ministry of Public Security released information on more than 5,000 free blood collection points across the country to help abducted women and children reunite with their families as soon as possible. Throughout 2022, 970 cases of trafficking in women were cracked.

From 2015 to 2022, legal aid institutions across the country organized and handled a total of 11.53 million legal aid cases, providing legal aid to 13.71 million people and legal advice to 87.69 million people. In accordance with law, judicial administrative authorities and legal aid institutions at all levels provided criminal defense legal aid services to criminal suspects or defendants who did not retain a defender, and the rate of assignment of defense for such cases reached 100%.

Source: Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China

●Cases

The World

United Nations Peacekeeping helps countries torn by conflict create conditions for lasting peace

Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to the UN to assist host countries navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace. 

Peacekeeping has unique strengths, including legitimacy, burden sharing, and an ability to deploy and sustain troops and police from around the globe, integrating them with civilian peacekeepers to advance multidimensional mandates.

UN peacekeepers provide security and political and peacebuilding support to help countries make the difficult, early transition from conflict to peace.

UN Peacekeeping is guided by three basic principles: consent of the parties; impartiality; non-use of force except in self-defense and defense of the mandate.

Peacekeeping is flexible and over the past two decades has been deployed in many configurations. There are currently 12 UN peacekeeping operations deployed on three continents.

Today’s multidimensional peacekeeping operations are called upon not only to maintain peace and security, but also to facilitate the political process, protect civilians, assist in the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; and to support the organization of elections, protect and promote human rights and assist in restoring the rule of law.

Success is never guaranteed, because UN Peacekeeping almost by definition goes to the most physically and politically difficult environments. However, they have built up a demonstrable record of success including winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

Peacekeeping has always been highly dynamic and has evolved in the face of new challenges. Former Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon established a 17-member High-level Independent Panel on UN Peace Operations to make a comprehensive assessment of the state of UN peace operations today, and the emerging needs of the future.

Source: UN Peacekeeping

EyeWitness to Atrocities app captures evidence 

Registered in the United Kingdom, eyeWitness to Atrocities is an organization initiated by the International Bar Association. When using technology to document mass atrocity crimes, ease of use as well as guaranteed evidentiary value of the collected footage is crucial. Through a participatory design approach, they engage closely with the intended users of the eyeWitness technology – both the documentation teams recording footage and the investigators and lawyers using the footage for justice – to ensure the system meets user needs.

The app has been used to capture more than 60,000 photos and videos, and submit over 53 dossiers to accountability mechanisms.

The app has notable features:

1. Footage embedded with metadata to show authenticity.

2. Transmission and storage of footage creates chain of custody.

3. Anonymous reporting allows for increased witness protection.

Source: UNDP

China

Institute of Crime Prevention of Ministry of Justice sets up research base in Shenzhen Prison

Photo: Guangdong Prison Administrative Bureau

In July 2023, the Institute of Crime Prevention of the Ministry of Justice established a scientific research base in Shenzhen Prison, Guangdong Province, and signed a scientific research cooperation agreement on the spot.

Zhou Yong, deputy director of the Institute of Crime Prevention of the Ministry of Justice, fully recognized the efforts and achievements of Shenzhen Prison in reducing the recidivism rate of ex-prisoners, especially the active exploration made by Shenzhen Prison in recent years in the construction of the evaluation and correction center, the risk assessment of violent recidivism, the new mindfulness correction technology, and the emotion management and correction project.

Source: Guangdong Prison Administrative Bureau

Shenzhen Pengxing Anti-Domestic Violence Center fights with domestic violence

Photo: Shenzhen Pengxing Anti-Domestic Violence Center

The Shenzhen Pengxing Anti-Domestic Violence Center has raised more than 1 million yuan of social funds across the country, launched the “Pengxing Emergency Fund for Abused Women and Children” project, and provided psychological counseling, legal advice and emergency fund assistance for abused women and children across the country through its service hotline.

Source: Shenzhen Pengxing Anti-Domestic Violence Center

●Background

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiated by the United Nations

On January 1, 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including 169 targets, of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change while ensuring that no one is left behind.