The United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development covers 17 goals, the 16th of which is “Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions,” namely: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Under this major goal, there are 12 targets, the 16.3 of which is “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.”

●Current Situation

The World

Over 6 billion people live in a country where the rule of law is declining

The WJP Rule of Law Index is the world’s leading source of original, independent rule of law data. Its rigorous methodology draws on expert and household surveys to measure rule of law in 142 countries and jurisdictions, covering 95% of the world’s population.

The rule of law has once again eroded in a majority of countries, according to the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index 2023. More than 6 billion people live in a country where the rule of law weakened between 2022 and 2023.

The rule of law factor to decline most between 2016 and 2023 is Fundamental Rights—down in 77% of countries. Over the past seven years, Index scores for Constraints on Government Powers have fallen in 74% of countries. Negative justice trends expanded in 2023. Two-thirds of countries (66%) saw their Index scores for Civil Justice fall in 2023, up from 61% of countries in 2022. 

China

Ministry of Justice improves level of opening up and standardizing judicial administration

In 2023, the Ministry of Justice strengthened legal services related to Hong Kong, Macao and foreign countries, promoted the establishment of pilot international commercial arbitration centers, selected 295 notary institutions to conduct overseas remote video notarization, and extended the trial period for Hong Kong and Macao lawyers to practice in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Efforts were accelerated in cultivating legal talent for handling foreign-related matters, including implementing training programs for foreign-related lawyers and arbitration professionals. Collaborative innovation bases for legal talent were established in coordination with relevant departments. International judicial assistance was carried out in an organized manner, involving the review and handling of 237 criminal judicial assistance cases from 38 countries, as well as the prudent handling of 88 cases related to outward transfer involving 16 countries.

The primary channel for administrative review was effectively utilized. In 2023, the country received 315,000 new administrative review cases, representing a year-on-year increase of 17.1%. A total of 293,000 administrative review cases were concluded in accordance with the law, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 14.45%. Notably, the Ministry of Justice handled 4,644 administrative review cases administered by the State Council.

Efforts were made to enhance the standardization of judicial administration. The government’s information disclosure process was solidified, ensuring efficiency and convenience for citizens seeking government information in accordance with the law. Throughout the year, 352 new applications for government information disclosure were received, with 10 carried over from the previous year. A total of 334 cases were successfully concluded, achieving a completion rate of 94.8%. Responses related to government information disclosure adhered to legal procedures, accurate factual determinations, and appropriate legal applications.

Public participation in law enforcement supervision was intensified. An evaluation system for administrative law enforcement and public satisfaction standards has been developed and deployed. The third-party assessments of public satisfaction with administrative law enforcement were initiated. Mechanisms for overseeing significant administrative law enforcement cases were improved, and 86 cases were monitored through the administrative law enforcement supervision and criticism platform. Pilot programs were launched to connect administrative law enforcement supervision with the 12345 government service hotline, and information exchange mechanisms were established with news media and other social oversight channels.

Source: Ministry of Justice of the People’s Republic of China

The World

Social justice goals and progress in Cisco

By FY25: Social Justice Action 1, Support community partnerships, legislation, and advocacy: Donate US$5 million to African American/Black (AA/B) nonprofit organizations advocating for equity and justice. 

-US$4 million donated between FY20 and FY23

By FY23: Social Justice Action 2, Increase representation: Achieve a 25% increase in representation of all employees who self-identify as AA/B from entry level through manager and a 75% increase in representation from Director to VP+ level, by expanding their diverse talent pipeline. 

ACHIEVED:

-73% increase (entry level through manager) 

-103% increase (Director) 

-240% increase (Vice President and above) 

By FY24: Social Justice Action 7, Supplier engagement: Double how much they spend with diverse suppliers and receive reporting on diversity metrics from 95% of their preferred suppliers. 

-108% increase in diverse supplier spend between FY20 and FY23 

-88% of preferred suppliers reported diversity metrics in FY23 

By FY25: Social Justice Action 8, Commit to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs): Commit US$150 million to preserve the legacy and sustainability of HBCUs, with US$50 million to fund science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and US$100 million to drive technology modernization. 

-US$37.5 million spent on STEM education 

-US$66 million spent on technology upgrades 

By FY25: Social Justice Action 10, Diversify their partner ecosystem: Commit US$50 million to increase the diversity in their partner ecosystem by increasing the number of AA/B-owned technology companies and increasing opportunities to accelerate the financial growth of AA/B-owned partners. 

-Increased AA/B-owned companies in their partner ecosystem 

-Special focus on 17 Acceleration partners 

By FY25: Social Justice Action 11, Invest in next generation tech innovation: Invest US$50 million in startups and venture funds led by diverse leaders. 

-Ongoing investment in startups and venture funds led by BIPOC, Latinx, and female leaders

Source: Cisco

Walmart sets up Ethics & Compliance Program and Foundations

Walmart’s core values, respecting the individual, serving the customer, striving for excellence, acting with integrity, are at the center of everything they do. The Code of Conduct helps them make decisions that promote those values by describing the behaviors they expect of each other and reinforcing that they are committed to complying with laws and regulations in all locations where they operate.

Walmart’s Ethics and Compliance program is risk-based and tailored to address the needs of global business. They design their program around nine foundations that enable consistency, yet are able to adapt to changes in their business and the external environment.

The Ethics & Compliance program foundations are designed to align their programs with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs framework and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Good Practice Guidance.

China

Photo: China Mobile

China Mobile actively carries out stakeholder communication and establishes communication and response channels. In 2023, the company established the China Mobile Rule of Law Construction Expert Committee, set up legal research centers in specialized fields; established a long-term mechanism for legal education for leadership and management personnel, holding the National Constitution Day theme activity for the 10th consecutive year; carried out the “Operate According to the Law, Protect Life” education activity, and enhanced the legal governance concept among all employees by using the “He Fa Shu” online rule of law publicity and legal education platform.

The company has introduced the China Mobile Integrity Commitment System (Trial) to widen the integrity commitment’s scope, specifically targeting the contract signing process, integrity management for exiting and retired staff, and the procedures for handling breaches of this commitment. It has opened channels for reporting, such as postal mailbox, onsite receipt of reports during supervision and inspection work, and CEO mailbox, for employees and members of the public to report any improprieties.

Source: China Mobile

Ping An annually reviews the group's governance principles, mechanisms, structures, and processes. In 2023, it reviewed the compliance with its governance criterion two times, and comprehensively analyzed and optimized its corporate governance. It carried out over 5,800 thematic education activities for employees, outsourced personnel and insurance agents by sharing typical cases, issuing integrity posters or risk tips, organizing lectures, recommending online short courses, etc., with 100% coverage of intended audiences. The company received 545 complaints from the complaint letter and visit channels, with all the problems examined and verified.

Source: Ping An

●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.