SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

Goal 16 aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

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35th

in the world

UNSW Law & Justice ranked 35th in the global Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject.

$685m

raised through philanthropy

UNSW achieved another milestone in 2024, raising $100 million for impactful projects and life-changing initiatives. It builds on a remarkable decade, which saw $685m contributed by 25,800+ donors.

100+

outcomes achieved

Through UNSW's Yuwaya Ngarra-li community-led partnership, designed to improve youth justice and wellbeing, housing, food and water security.

UNSW Professor Megan Davis, Pro Vice-Chancellor Society, reflected on “The Power of Voice” in UNSW’s 10 Minute Genius podcast series.

UNSW Law & Justice

UNSW Law & Justice is a top-ranking faculty and a global leader in law and criminology education and research, setting the pace in Australia for 50 years.

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Our work

Partnership improving Aboriginal youth justice

UNSW's community-led partnership with the Dharriwaa Elders Group (DEG), Yuwaya Ngarra-li, aims to improve the well-being, environment and pathways of Aboriginal people in Walgett, and to build and evaluate a new model of community-university collaboration. In 2023, 100+ outcomes were achieved across projects designed to improve youth justice and wellbeing, housing, food and water security - including $178,112 worth of fine debt held by Aboriginal community members written or worked off.

Fish for Prisons Program in PNG

In partnership with the National Fisheries Authority of Papua New Guinea, Professor Jes Sammut’s ACIAR-funded fish farming research project provides technical support and mentoring to prisoners in 8 prisons in PNG. Fish farming is used to provide protein for prisoners, to address idleness and provide a livelihood option for ex-prisoners. The program has stopped repeat offending by released prisoners and enabled them to restore their status in society.

Launch of Modern Slavery Strategy and Action Plan

UNSW recognises its responsibility to protect human rights and is committed to the creation of a just and equal society where social impacts are enhanced in Australia and around the world. In 2023, we established a Modern Slavery Strategy to strengthen our approach and continue delivering positive human rights outcomes. Modern slavery is a global threat to human rights with an estimated 49.6 million people living in modern slavery in 2021.

Human rights fellowship with leading NGOs

To give students real-life experience in the international development and human rights sectors, the UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute offered students the chance to undertake a six-week, paid fellowship with a leading organisation. The Institute contributed $6500 to each student to support them in the fellowship.

Solar powered AI boats win award

UNSW partners with company Ocius to build solar-powered robotic boats that can be used to reduce illegal fishing, map oceans and protect whales from deep-sea mining. The project, which is based at UNSW, received an award for the best industry collaboration from Knowledge Commercialisation Australasia in 2023.

Belonging & what’s next for Constitutional Recognition

You voted yes. So, what’s next? Members of the Uluru Dialogue, architects of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and UNSW's Pro-Vice Chancellor Society team, joined UNSW's Diversity Festival 2025 for a conversation about the current state of play in Aboriginal Affairs and the ongoing fight for constitutional recognition of First Nations peoples.

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The Truth Defence: Ben Roberts-Smith and the Media

Hear from investigative journalist Chris Masters, UNSW Sydney legal experts Douglas Guilfoyle and Daniel Joyce, and host Geraldine Doogue as they unravel the remarkable story of Ben Roberts-Smith, examining the highly anticipated trial of the century and unpacking what it means for journalism and justice in Australia.

Democracy Reimagined: New Thinking for the 21st Century

In some of the strongest democracies, democratic principles are being undermined while many voices are ignored. In this conversation, Nobel Prize laureate Tawakkol Karman tells her story of her determination to bring peace and democracy in the Middle East.

Australia and Asia: Working Together for a Prosperous Future

In a reflection that spans centuries, Dr Sebastian Sequoiah-Grayson recounts the tumultuous history and promising future of Australia. He draws us into the dramatic events of the Lambing Flat Riots and their lasting impact on anti-Chinese sentiment, weaving in personal anecdotes of his great-grandfather’s compassionate actions. Sequoyah-Grayson challenges us to imagine a different path where early settlers embraced cooperation over resentment.

Trump's America & the future of diversity

Ahead of the US presidential election, as the world faces the possibility of Trump 2.0, this event discusses the societal impact of the presence and absence of equity, diversity and inclusion. Hosted by Verity Firth, with Nick Bryant, Mario Lopez, and Frances Voon.

Centres, institutes and partnerships

Photo courtesy: Dharriwaa Elders

Yuwaya Ngarra-li

A community-led partnership between the Dharriwaa Elders Group and UNSW, working together to improve the wellbeing, social, built and physical environment and life pathways of Aboriginal people in Walgett through collaborating on evidence-based initiatives, research and capacity building.

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Kingsford Legal Centre (KLC)

KLC is a community legal centre providing free legal advice, casework and education to locals. Part of UNSW Law & Justice, KLC's lawyers, volunteers and students help 1500+ local community members each year with problems such as domestic violence, discrimination, housing, employment, criminal law, credit and debt, fines and victim’s compensation.

The Institute for Global Development

Invested in more than 35 projects since 2016, building institutional and community capacity, and supporting student placements and peer learning exchanges with partners in developing countries.

The Indigenous Law Centre (ILC)

Established in 1981, ILC is the only Indigenous law research centre in Australia. The ILC contributes to the recognition, protection and development of the legal rights and freedoms of Indigenous peoples both in Australia and internationally.

Centre for Sustainable Development Reform

The centre is the host of the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) Secretariat. The GOAP is a is a global, multi-institutional partnership established to enable countries and other stakeholders to go Beyond GDP to measure and manage progress toward ocean sustainable development.

PLuS Alliance

The PLuS Alliance is a groundbreaking union between UNSW Sydney, Arizona State University and King’s College London. The partnership works towards promoting social justice principles and enables research-led solutions to global challenges.

Climate Mobility Hub

The new UNSW Kaldor Centre’s Climate Mobility Hub offers facts, policies to help people stay and safely move, and stories from people impacted by climate change.

A collaboration with artist Lindy Lee and Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture, the Cloud Gate in Chinatown interprets the solid, liquid and vapour states of water. Hill Thalis A+UP with Lindy Lee and Jane Irwin Landscape Architecture.

Purple Flag program

UNSW's Dr Phillip Wadds is currently serving as the inaugural lead assessor for the NSW government’s Purple Flag program. The Purple Flag is an international accreditation program for excellence in managing the night-time economy. The Purple Flag sign indicates the area meets standards of excellence in vibrancy, diversity and safety at night.

The Asia Law and Policy Forum

The Asia Law and Policy Forum at UNSW Law & Justice is a network of researchers who foster and research on law and politics in Asia. Dr Mario Gomez of the International Centre for Ethnic Studies and Professor Melissa Crouch collaborated on a two-year project called in Sri Lanka that received $420,000 in funding under a DFAT Sri Lanka grant scheme.

Drug Policy Modelling Program

The Drug Policy Modelling Program (DPMP) aims to improve alcohol and drug policy and the Australian Government Department of Health engaged the Drug Policy Modelling Program at UNSW to develop a National Treatment Framework (NTF).

Centre for Crime, Law and Justice

Building on the strong tradition of criminal justice research and scholarship at UNSW, the Centre for Crime, Law and Justice's primary goal is to support staff and higher degree researchers in the production of multi-disciplinary scholarship on important topics in criminal law, justice, criminology and crime prevention.

Students at UNSW Kensington Orientation week 2023

Arc - UNSW student union

Arc is the student life organisation at UNSW - run by students, for students. Its mission is to create the best student experience through Clubs, Sports, Volunteering, Events, Wellness, Help and more.

ChallENG - healthcare partnerships

Since 2015, UNSW and Engineering World Health have collaborated to improve healthcare delivery in resource-poor hospitals around the world. In 2023, the partnership offered up to 15 students the opportunity to become a biomedical equipment technician in Nepal, repairing critical medical equipment and transforming lives in low-resource communities.

Natural Capital Accounting pilot in the Maldives

The Government of the Republic of the Maldives is developing natural capital accounts through pilot testing of the System of Environmental Economic Accounting Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA) framework in Laamu Atoll. The pilot is being implemented by UNSW, the Fisheries Resource Center of Indonesia (Rekam Nusantara Foundation) and MNU.

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Canadian Ocean Accounts: A Pilot Project

The Canadian Ocean Accounts pilot was established as a collaborative project with the Department of Fisheries, Oceans Canada and Statistics Canada in early 2019. With a budget of approximately $1 million over four years, the pilot supported the commitments outlined as part of the Ocean Panel.

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Business and human rights training in Asia

In partnership with the UN Development Programme, UNSW’s Australian Human Rights Institute delivered training on business and human rights to national human rights institutions across Asia. The training increased capacity and understanding of business and human rights, promoted knowledge exchange, and built networks and linkages for those working in business and human rights in the region.

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Richard Holden on the Impact of Trump

From healthcare funding shifts to climate policy rollbacks, join UNSW Professor of Economics Richard Holden as he unpacks the potential impact of a second Trump administration on global healthcare, climate and sustainability, economic stability and social cohesion.

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Fragile Democracy

With Nick Bryant, Barrie Cassidy, Rosalind Dixon and Bruce Wolpe. Australia has been a close ally of the United States since 1940, but what does this mean for contemporary politics when democracy is more fragile than ever? Unpack the far-reaching ramifications of this relationship across trade, security, foreign policy and beyond.

This event was presented by the Sydney Writers' Festival and supported by UNSW Sydney.

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Ethics and Engineering for the Public Good

This discussion explored how ethical thinking is required in helping engineers and technical professionals navigate the day-to-day realities of their projects and contribute to a sustainable and just society.

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Expendable Australians

Australians abroad have found themselves in harm’s way in recent years. With global crises proliferating, where is it too dangerous to go? If an Australian passport does not protect you, what are you owed by your government?

This event was part of UNSW x Festival of Dangerous Ideas and UNSW x Social Sciences Week 2022.

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UNSW Strategy in Action 2025

UNSW Strategy: Progress for All

UNSW's 10-year strategy reaffirms our commitment to advancing expansive and inclusive global positive impact. Building on 75 years of impact, UNSW strives to address pressing global challenges and ensure communities worldwide can thrive socially, economically, culturally and environmentally.

Strategic Pillar 9 is: Strengthen societal resilience, security and cohesion. We will focus on enabling access, ensuring equity and building trust in the digital age, through active participation in policy development, our deep research expertise, and genuine engagement with the people, communities and partners throughout our region.

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