HUMAN SECURITY, HUMAN RIGHTS & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Tabassum Hossain ID: 16411032 Sec: A Question What are the components of Human Security? How do you differentiate between Human Security, Human Rights and Human Development? Explain. Concept of Human Security Human security in broadest sense embraces peace, security and development. It encompasses human rights, good governance, access to education and health care and ensuring that each individual has opportunities and choices to fulfil his or her own potential. Every step in this direction is also a step towards reducing poverty, achieving economic growth and preventing conflict. Freedom from want, freedom from fear and the freedom of future generations to inherit a healthy natural environment—these are the interrelated building blocks of human, and therefore national, security. Human security also reinforces human dignity. Human security aims at developing the capabilities of individuals and communities to make informed choices and to act on behalf of causes and interests in many spheres of life. Human Security Now, Commission on Human Security report 2003 Mary Martin, History of, and Rationale for the Concept of Human Security (HS), Human Security Research Center Commission on Human Security The Commission on Human Security, defines human security as: “…to protect the vital core of all human lives in ways that enhance human freedoms and human fulfillment.” Overall, the definition proposed by the CHS re-conceptualizes security in the following way: (i) moving away from traditional, state-centric conceptions to the security of the individuals, their protection and empowerment; (ii)drawing attention to a multitude level of threats thus highlighting the interface between security, development and human rights; and (iii) promoting a new integrated, coordinated and people-centered approach to advance peace, security and development within and across nations. Human Security in Theory and Practise, United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security Main Features of Human Security Human security brings together the ‘human elements’ of security, rights and development. As such, it is an interdisciplinary concept that displays the following characteristics: people-centered multi-sectoral Comprehensive context-specific prevention-oriented Components of Human Security There have always been two major components of human security: (i) freedom from fear and (ii) freedom from want. In 1945, the US secretary of state reported to his government on the results of the conference in San Francisco that set up the United Nations. He was quite specific on this point: The battle of peace has to be fought on two fronts. The first is the security front where victory spells freedom from fear. The second is the economic and social front where victory means freedom from want. Only victory on both fronts can assure the world of an enduring peace,. ,,No provisions that can be written into the Charter will enable the Security Council to make the world secure /rom war if men and women have no security in their homes and their jobs. UNDP(1994) Human Development Report Possible Types of the Human Security Threats Type of Security Examples of Main Threats Economic security Persistent poverty, unemployment Food security Hunger, famine Health security Deadly infectious diseases, unsafe food, malnutrition, lack of access to basic health care Environmental security Environnemental degradation, Resource depletion, natural disasters, pollution Personal security Physical violence, crime, terrorism, domestic violence, child labor Community security Inter-ethnic, religious and other identity based tensions Political security Political repression, human rights abuses Based on the UNDP Human Development Report of 1994 and the HSU The Added Value of Human Security as an Operational Tool The strength and appeal of human security as an operational tool for analysis, explanation and programming lies in the following components: (i) A Framework for Protection and Empowerment (ii)Comprehensive (iii)Multi-sectoral (iv)Contextualization (v)Emphasis on Prevention (vi)Partnerships and Collaboration (vii)Benchmarking, Evaluation and Impact Assessment How does Human Security differ from Traditional Security? Human Security Vs State Security Whereas state security concentrates on threats directed against the state, mainly in the form of military attacks, human security draws attention to a wide scope of threats faced by individuals and communities. It focuses on root causes of insecurities and advances people-centered solutions that are locally driven, comprehensive and sustainable. Human security complements “state security” in four respects: • Its concern is the individual and the community rather than the state. • Menaces to people’s security include threats and conditions that have not always been classified as threats to state security. • The range of actors is expanded beyond the state alone. •Achieving human security includes not just protecting people but also empowering people to fend for themselves. Human Security Now, Commission on Human Security, 2003 Relations between HS, HD & HR Human Development Human Dignity Human Security Human Rights Figure: The Golden Triangle of Human Dignity Bas de Gaay Fortman, The Golden Triangle of Human Dignity: Human Security, Human Rights & Human Development, 2004 Human Security & Human Rights • Art. 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (“Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person.”) explicitly refers to security in the framework of human rights. • Art. 9 of the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (“Everyone hat the right to life, liberty and security of person”) • Art. 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (“Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person”) • Art. 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (“Every individual shall have the right to liberty and to the security of his person”) • Art. 1 of the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (“Every human being has the right to life, liberty and the security of his person”) • Art. 7 of the American Convention on Human Rights (“Every person has the right to personal liberty and security”). Human rights as the core of human security . GERD OBERLEITNER , Human Security and Human Rights, 2002 Difference between Human Rights & Human Security Human rights provide the conceptual and normative foundation for human security, they are the basis for a life in dignity, well-being and security and they “define human security”. Generally, a ‘rightsbased approach’ can provide a useful framework for the promotion of human security. - Human rights violations are often the root causes of conflict, insecurity and instability and in this way are a central element of a threat-based approach to explaining human security. In turn, of course, respect for human rights prevents conflict and insecurity. - On a more general level, respect for human rights fosters harmonious social relations and thus inter-societal security. Bertrand Ramcharan, Human rights and human security GERD OBERLEITNER , Human Security and Human Rights, 2002 Human Development Human Development’ refers to ‘development of, by and for people’ It has been popularized since 1990 by the United Nations Development Program in the annual global UN Human Development Report (HDR). ‘a welfare standard explicitly expressed in terms of human welfare rather than “economic welfare” in contrast to the traditional of humanistic economics and Aristotelian thought. Lutz summarises this welfare standard as ‘material sufficiency and human dignity for all’ Human development gives a comprehensive and often radical, framework for policy analysis: not only economic, not only ‘social’, and not only concerned with human resource development or basic material needs. The framework is radical too in its geographical field of attention. Human Security and Social Quality: Contrasts and Complementarities, December, 2008 Human Development & Human Security- Key Features The human development approach emerged in the late 1980s in response to the negative effects of structural adjustment policy applied to countries in the South. Led originally by two South Asian scholars, Mahbub ul Haq and Amartya Sen, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme. By the initiative of Sen & Haq the language of ‘human security’, in the Human Development Report 1994 The 1994 Human Development Report argued that rich countries should see development assistance as an investment in their own human security, rather than as charity. The concept of human security complemented the ‘human development’ language by emphasizing on ensuring basic requirements and stability on attainable favourably valued life-paths. The Millennium Development Goals programs have been a partial attempt in this direction. The Human and the Social :A comparison of the discourses of Human Development, Human Security and Social Quality , Gasper, 2011 A comparison of human development (HD) and human security (HS) approaches Human Development Human Security 1. Broader range of objectives than GNP 1. Focus on reasoned freedoms 2. Focus on reasoned freedoms 2. A focus on basic needs 3. Joined-up thinking 3. A concern for stability as well as for levels 4. Joined-up feeling but ... 4. A normative focus on individuals' lives 5. the motivational basis is presumed rather than constructed 5. an insistence on basic rights for all 6. Serious concern for equity but without guarantees for individuals 6. Nexus between freedoms from want and indignity and freedom from fear 7. A more generalised and economicsoriented language 7. stronger motivational basis, mobilizing attention and concern, and sustaining Broader acceptance of Human Security • Establishment of the HSU, in 2004, by the UN Secretary General’s High-level Panel. It stresses the need to address human security along with state security and draws strong links between development and conflict. • In 2005, in his final proposal for UN reforms within his report In Larger Freedom, Kofi Annan, made specific reference to the term human security, uses its three components, namely ‘freedom from fear’, ‘freedom from want’ and ‘freedom to live in dignity’ as the main thematic principles of the report. • In parallel, the creation of the Friends of Human Security (FHS), as “a flexible and open-ended informal group of supporters of human security” shows a commitment by states and international organizations to engage with the concept in line with the CHS definition and disseminate it on the ground. The Human and the Social :A comparison of the discourses of Human Development, Human Security and Social Quality , Gasper, 2011 • more than 175 human security projects worldwide. These projects cover a wide range of issues including: protection and reintegration of refugees, post-conflict peacebuilding, prevention of human trafficking, women’s empowerment, food and health security, socio-economic security for vulnerable communities as well as activities to further promote the concept of human security. • Developments at the international level are similarly reflected in the agendas and policy debates among regional organizations such as the African Union, ASEAN, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the League of Arab States (LAS). • Paragraph 143 (A/RES/60/1) recognizes that “all individuals, in particular vulnerable people, are entitled to freedom from fear and freedom from want, with an equal opportunity to enjoy their rights and fully develop their human potential”. Bertrand Ramcharan, Human rights and human security Human Security in Theory and Practise, United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security