UN Sustainable Development Goals: A Case Study

By Aurélie Lévesque

Abstract

This article aims to provide an evaluative case study on the influx of Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon and their respective abilities to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The paper introduces the Syrian Civil War in Section II as the leading cause of the Syrian refugee crisis, providing necessary background information on the conflict. Key statistics illustrating the current socio-economic state of Lebanon and Jordan allow for discussion of the severity of the impact of refugees on both countries. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs) is then outlined, with its history, developmental aim, and relevance to human rights described. A further link is made with Jordan and Lebanon, explaining how both countries must focus on the first dozen goals to create a strong foundation for sustainable development and prosperity. The analysis comprises two parts: the first part evaluates Lebanon and how it dealt with the influx of refugees in terms of SDG achievement. Jordan is evaluated in the second part, with an assessment of its ability to develop whilst encompassing refugees in its development sustainably. Limits and opportunities for change are discussed, allowing for a thorough evaluation of both approaches to refugee management. The case study concludes with a comprehensive assessment of Jordan and Lebanon’s ability to meet the SDGs and their overall importance to international human rights.

Refugee crises have been a critical international human rights issue throughout history, from the 1994 Rwandan Genocide to World War II. For decades, the international community has been plagued by numerous issues, including host countries’ duties towards refugees, the issue of providing international help, and sourcing funding for this. Today, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (hereinafter ‘UNHCR’) estimates that there are 32.5 million refugees worldwide.1 The Syrian civil war has resulted in over 6.8 million refugees are fleeing thecountry.2 Hostcountriesforrefugeesareimpacted inevery way. Economies, socialservices, and infrastructure are all affected by incoming refugees. This is mainly seen in lower-income countries, which already lack the necessary funding for adequate social services. The added pressure of refugees often causes entire social service systems to collapse as they are not designed for additional pressure, considering that they already struggle under their own population’s pressures. Lebanon and Jordan, hosts to the largest number of Syrian refugees,3 both border Syria, which makes it easier for refugees to cross the border, albeit illegally. The added pressure of refugees has significantly decreased the availability of social services such as education, healthcare, and resources such as food and water in those states.Thehighnumber of refugees in Lebanon and Jordan has also decreased job availability, increasing poverty rates. Overall,bothcountrieshaveseenanimpactfromtheinflux of refugees, affecting their ability to maximise sustainable development. Refugees currently receive the most aid from international organisations and agencies such as the UNHCR. However, this is not enough to tackle the many issues facing the millions of refugees in both Jordan and Lebanon. Several of these problems regard fundamental human rights, such as the right to health, education, security, and asylum. Nevertheless,governments oftenfail toplanwithrefugeesin mind,forgettingtheirdutyto fulfil and enforce refugees’ human rights.

The Sustainable Development Goals (hereinafter ‘SDGs’) are very tightly linked with fundamental human rights. The agenda outlines 17 goals, ranging from poverty and world hunger to equality before the law and climate action.4 Achieving the targets outlined by the goalsallowsfortheremovalofbarriers tofundamental humanrights.InJordanand Lebanon’s case, evaluating the impact and ability to achieve certain SDGs serves as a direct assessment of the barriers regarding access to human rights forrefugees.

1 ‘Refugee Data Finder’ (UNHCR, 2022) <www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics> accessed 9 November 2022.

2 ‘Syria Refugee Crisis Explained’ (United Nations Refugee Agency, 8 July 2022) <www.unrefugees.org/news/syria-refugee-crisisexplained/#:~:text=The%20Syrian%20refugee%20crisis%20is,the%20southern%20town%20of%20Daraa.> accessed 6 December 2022.

3 Omer Karasapan, ‘Syrian refugees in Jordan: A decade and counting’ (Brookings, 27 January 2022) <www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2022/01/27/syrian-refugees-in-jordan-a-decade-andcounting/#:~:text=Most%20of%20the%20refugees%20are,while%20Lebanon%20claims%201.5%20million.> accessed 6 December 2022.

The SDGs also have high legal importance. As an evolvement from the Millennium Development Goals (hereinafter ‘MDGs’),5 the SDGs implement the rule of law to “foster just and inclusive societies [free from] violence”.6 Global collaboration on the goals is essential to eradicate violence, and, with that, reduce the number of refugees. Overall, peacekeeping ensures nations can prioritize sustainable development and invest in the public sector, government programs, and nation-wide economic development, leading to prosperity for communities worldwide. The legal element of the SDGs (SDG 16) is key to reducing global poverty and hunger and increasing education rates and economic development. Absence of conflict results in the upkeep of infrastructure, government stability, and consequently, increase in the quality of life for the population. When governments can focus on development through the implementation of the SDGs, key developmental points such as poverty and education are tackled, along with other ‘secondary’ goals, such as climate action (SDG13) and responsible consumption and production (SDG12). The rule of law is therefore highly pertinent to sustainable development and the SDGs.

II. Syrian refugee crisis

March 2011 marked the beginning of a decade-long civil war in Syria. Protests broke out in the city of Deraa after authorities arrested and tortured fifteen boys who spray-painted messages on walls against the regime.7 The protestors, rallying behind the schoolboys, were metwith aviolentresponsefromthepolice,and thefirstshotsofthecivilwar erupted.Protests spread across the country, and people made it clear: they demanded change. The protestors called for an end to the oppressive regime, an end to the half-century-old state of emergency and institutional corruption, but most of all, they demanded freedom.8 As the conflict escalated into a civil war, international superpowers such as Russia (backing the Syrian President and the regime) and the United States of America (hereinafter ‘USA’) (initially backing the rebels fighting the President, but later only the rebels fighting the extremist rebel group ISIS) began to get involved.9 Today, the United Nations Refugee Agency estimates 6.8 million10 refugees have fled Syria since the beginning of the conflict, with another 6.9 million internally displaced within Syria,11 and over 400,00 killed by the violence.12 Strict sanctions have been imposed on the country,13 and the civil war has seen Syria’s economy, infrastructure, and social services crumble, forcing millions to leave in search of a better life. Lebanon and Jordan place first and second, respectively, in the number of Syrian refugees they host. The Lebanese government estimates that 1.5 million Syrian refugees are located in Lebanon, making 1 in 4 people in the country a Syrian refugee.14 Globally, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (hereinafter ‘UNICEF’) estimates that 3.2 million Syrian refugees lack access to safe water,15 2.2 million children need child protective services,16 and 4.1 million children need education support.17 Additionally, the UNHCR estimates that nine out of ten Syrian families in Lebanon live in extreme poverty,18 which the World Bank defines as “living on less than $1.90 a day”.19 Overall, a significant change must be implemented to fulfil refugees’ fundamental human rights.

4 ‘The 17 Goals’ (United Nations Sustainable Development, 2022) <https://sdgs.un.org/goals> accessed 6 December 2022.

5 ‘Millennium Development Goals’ (World Health Organization, 19 February 2018) <www.who.int/newsroom/fact-sheets/detail/millennium-development-goals(mdgs)#:~:text=The%20United%20Nations%20Millennium%20Declaration,are%20derived%20from%20this% 20Declaration.> accessed 6 December 2022.

6 Markus Kaltenborn et al, ‘Securitizing Sustainable Development? The Coercive Sting in SDG 16’, [2019], Volume 5, (Sustainable Development Goals and Human Rights), 56.

7 Zachary Laub, ‘Syria’s Civil War: The Descent Into Horror’ (Council on Foreign Relations, 17 March 2022) <www.cfr.org/article/syrias-civil-war> accessed 11 October 2022.

8 ibid.

9 ibid.

10 Syria Refugee Crisis Explained’ (United Nations Refugee Agency, 8 July 2022) <www.unrefugees.org/news/syria-refugee-crisisexplained/#:~:text=The%20Syrian%20refugee%20crisis%20is,the%20southern%20town%20of%20Daraa.> accessed 6 December 2022.

11 ibid.

12 Kristin Romey, ‘11 years into Syria’s Civil War, this is what everyday life looks like’ (National Geographic, 9 March 2022) <www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/11-years-into-civil-war-what-syrian-life-lookslike> accessed 11 October 2022.

13 ‘Syria: Council extends sanctions against theregime for another year’ (Council of the European Union, 31 May 2022) <www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/05/31/syria-council-extends-sanctions-againstthe-regime-for-another-year/> accessed 6 December 2022.

14 ‘UNHCR Lebanon: Factsheet’ (UNHCR, September 2021) <https://reporting.unhcr.org/document/963> accessed 12 October 2022.

15 ‘Humanitarian Action for Children: Syrian Refugees’ (UNICEF, 2022) <www.unicef.org/media/112436/file/2022-HAC-Syrian-refugees.pdf> accessed 12 October 2022.

16 ibid.

17 ibid.

18 ‘Nineoutoften Syrianrefugeefamilies inLebanon arenowliving inextreme poverty, UNstudysays’(UNHCR, 18 December 2020) <www.unhcr.org/lb/14025-nine-out-of-ten-syrian-refugee-families-in-lebanon-are-nowliving-in-extreme-poverty-un-study-says.html> accessed 12 October 2022.

19 ‘Ending Extreme Poverty’ (World Bank, 8 June 2016) <www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2016/06/08/ending-extreme-poverty> accessed 12 October 2022.