Peace, justice and strong institutions are built through relationships of trust between communities, public services and the organisations that serve them.
At ARU, our contribution to Goal 16 extends well beyond research and teaching: we work with police forces, local authorities, legal professionals, charities, government bodies and community organisations to improve public protection, widen access to justice and strengthen civic participation.
Through these partnerships, we bring evidence and expertise into practice while creating opportunities for communities to shape solutions themselves, from tackling online harms and supporting vulnerable young people to providing free legal advice and strengthening democratic participation.
Strengthening democratic participation
We have also used our campuses to encourage participation in democratic life. Working with local Electoral Offices, Citizens UK, ARU Changemakers and SHoKE, we brought polling booths, ballot boxes and voting information onto campuses during Voter Registration Week. The initiative resulted in 125 previously unregistered students registering to vote, while the Cambridge City Election Team reported increased registration applications in areas where ARU students live.
Preventing online child sexual abuse and exploitation
ARU's International Policing and Public Protection Research Institute (IPPPRI) is developing research that strengthens society's response to online child sexual abuse and exploitation. In 2025, its portfolio included the ECHO project, funded by Safe Online and the Graham Dacre Foundation, which is designing and piloting an approach to enable survivors to obtain support and representation in relation to their child sexual abuse material. ARU researchers have also worked with the Internet Watch Foundation on its Think Before You Share campaign, providing research to inform campaign messaging and subsequently evaluating its impact, with support from the Oak Foundation. This work connects survivor experience, academic evidence and specialist organisations to improve prevention, protection and access to support.
Building safer institutions through partnership
A defining feature of ARU's SDG 16 research is collaboration. IPPPRI explicitly works through applied research partnerships, bringing together academic expertise with police services and other external agencies to address contemporary public-protection challenges. Its annual international conference further connects government, police, the third sector, academia and industry around the prevention of child sexual abuse and exploitation, with previous events co-hosted with the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Child Protection attracting more than 500 delegates from across the UK. By creating spaces where research evidence reaches policymakers and frontline practitioners, ARU helps strengthen the institutions responsible for justice and public safety.
Supporting young people through the Trusted Adult Scheme
ARU's Trusted Adult Scheme brings together youth-support workers, children's services practitioners, academics and trained adults to support young people in Cambridgeshire. Created in response to concerns about youth violence, the programme provides safe spaces, trusted relationships and opportunities including creative activities alongside workshops covering financial literacy, career planning and wellbeing. In 2023/24, 64 young people participated, with more than 72% attending at least 70% of sessions; the programme was subsequently nominated for the 2025 Alliance Awards Local Impact Award. The scheme demonstrates how universities can work alongside local services to strengthen prevention, inclusion and community safety.
Last updated: October 2026
To request additions, corrections or changes to the information in these pages, please contact: Dr Zareen Bharucha: [email protected]. Please use the subject line ‘ARU SDG’.