#PlanetPartners: University law experts guide institutions in reducing injustice and abuse

Contributing legal expertise to tackle global crime and prevent unjust murder verdicts are some of the ways the University of Reading is helping build inclusive and accountable institutions.

The University’s institutional and research efforts are underpinned by the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are aimed at tackling societal and environmental challenges across the planet and are closely aligned with the University’s own strategy.

This May, the University of Reading is running a new #PlanetPartners campaign, inviting its entire community to share examples of work towards all the SDGs.

SDG16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions aims to promote peaceful and inclusive societies, provide access to justice for all, and sustainable and accountable institutions at all levels.

“The work being done focuses on safeguarding and organisational accountability, ensuring that in the most vulnerable and crisis zones there is better protection against sexual exploitation and abuse and greater access to justice.” - Professor Rosa Freedman, University of Reading

Examples of work by the University to address SDG16 include:

• Bringing about a change in criminal law regarding Joint Enterprise in murder cases.
• Having a School of Law human rights expert appointed to the UN Civil Society Advisory Board to help the organisation tackle sexual exploitation and abuse. This work also includes implementing safeguarding in peacekeeping centres, national militaries, and NGOs working in conflict and crisis zones with the organisation Keeping Children Safe following reports for abuse by aid workers in Haiti and elsewhere.
• Training diplomats and key government officials from nations around the world in how international law can be applied to fighting cybercrime.
• Assessing who should have access to newly-developed armed drones that are available for private sale, and legal issues around preventing them from falling into the wrong hands.
• Hosting research that surveyed public views towards the death penalty in Zimbabwe, where the punishment remains legal but has waning support.
• Founding the Reading Centre for Climate and Justice, which supports nations who have contributed fewest emissions but suffered the most from climate change with legal claims.
• Ensuring the University’s Council is made up of individuals from outside the institution who can provide new perspectives and contribute positively to University life.
• Increasing protection of academic freedom in the University Charter, where it is enshrined as a core value.

Professor Rosa Freedman, Professor of Law, Conflict and Global Development at the University of Reading, who is working with Keeping Children Safe, said: “The work being done focuses on safeguarding and organisational accountability, ensuring that in the most vulnerable and crisis zones there is better protection against sexual exploitation and abuse and greater access to justice.”

The UN’s SDGs incorporate themes across the ‘five Ps’: People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace and Partnership. These align with the University of Reading’s own strategic themes: Community, Excellence, Sustainability and Engagement.

This campaign follows the publication of the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2021, in which Reading participated for the first time and ranked in the top 200 globally, which scored participating universities on their support of the individual SDGs.

#PlanetPartners

The University’s latest campaign is a continuation of the #PlanetPartners campaign launched by the University in October 2019, which is highlighting ways the University is working with global partners on projects that benefit the environment.

Follow the campaign and share your examples of work  on Twitter: @UniofReading | Facebook: /theuniversityofreading | Instagram: @uniofreading | LinkedIn: University of Reading | TikTok: @uniofreading using the hashtags #PlanetPartners and #sdgoals