 The SDGs are an urgent call for action by all countries to achieve sustainable development worldwide. The 17 goals aimed to end poverty, ensure equitable education, achieve gender equality, promote climate action, obtain affordable clean energy, and reduce inequality amongst others. They were adopted unanimously by the United Nations member states in 2015 to guide global and national development to 2030. Now that we are approaching the halfway mark, we need to assess the progress made so far and refocus our efforts to meet the goals. While gathering and analyzing official data takes years, the SDG 16 data initiative is a consortium of 17 organizations promoting the use of reliable, non-official data for monitoring progress and providing a snapshot of the current situation. Part of this effort involves producing an annual report describing trends and challenges and issuing recommendations. The SDG 16 data initiative tracks progress towards the achievement of SDG 16, which aims to promote just, peaceful, and inclusive societies, which is related to the core elements which make up a democracy. Successful implementation of SDG 16 can have an enormous impact on the achievement of all 17 goals, as sustainable development can only be fulfilled by democratic and inclusive societies. Unfortunately, data shows that the world is not making significant progress toward developing effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels. While journalist killings have declined in the past five years, imprisonment has reached a record high. COVID-19 has also weakened both the achievement and measurement of progress on all SDGs, perhaps especially SDG 16. As a result, the 2022 SDG 16 data initiative report suggests that many indicators won't meet key targets by 2030. That means we are not protecting human rights, we are not defending media freedom, and we are not providing access to justice to all. That means we are not doing enough. We now face the biggest challenges we need to reverse trends and promote collective action while running out of time. The SDG 16 data initiative is a key support group in this fight as it provides a tangible, reliable picture of what needs to be changed, tracking democracy, transparency, and freedom around the world. It is the time to raise public awareness about the value of democracy, renew focus on its vital role, and stimulate the revolutionary action necessary to galvanize lasting and meaningful change, together across the world.