HUMAN SECURITY
"The world can never be at peace unless people have security in their daily lives." — 1994 Human
Development Report
1. Introduction
Human security is a people-centered approach to understanding and promoting international peace and
stability. Instead of focusing only on the protection of state borders, it focuses on protecting individuals from
threats that affect their everyday lives. The core idea is: People First — their safety and dignity are the
foundation of real peace and development. According to the 1994 UN Human Development Report, human
security means: 'Safety from chronic threats such as hunger, disease, and repression, and protection from
sudden and hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life.' The Canadian Government defined it as:
'Freedom from pervasive threats to people’s rights, safety, and lives.' This shows that human security goes
beyond military protection. It links closely with human rights (protecting dignity and freedoms) and human
development (expanding people’s choices and opportunities).
2. Components of Human Security
The 1994 UN Human Development Report identified seven interrelated components of human security:
Economic Security – Ensuring a basic income and employment opportunities. Example: Economic instability
in Venezuela has led to poverty and migration, showing how economic insecurity can threaten lives. Food
Security – Access to sufficient and nutritious food at all times. Example: Famine in Somalia threatens
millions, showing food insecurity as a major human threat. Health Security – Protection from diseases and
unhealthy lifestyles. Example: The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how global health insecurity affects
both individuals and states. Environmental Security – Protection from pollution, deforestation, and natural
disasters. Example: Rising sea levels in Bangladesh endanger millions of people living in coastal areas.
Personal (Physical) Security – Protection from physical violence, crime, domestic abuse, and war. Example:
Civilians caught in the Syrian civil war face daily personal insecurity. Community Security – Protection of
cultural identity and prevention of ethnic or sectarian violence. Example: Ethnic conflicts in Rwanda and
Bosnia during the 1990s led to genocide, highlighting community insecurity. Political Security – Protection of
basic human rights and freedoms. Example: Citizens living under authoritarian regimes often face arrests or
violence for expressing dissent.
3. Need for the Concept
After the Cold War, global attention shifted from military competition between superpowers to internal
conflicts that caused large-scale human suffering. Civil wars, genocide, and ethnic cleansing (as in Rwanda,
Bosnia, and Kosovo) killed millions. Failed states like Somalia led to lawlessness and refugee crises. Media
coverage (the so-called 'CNN effect') generated a humanitarian imperative—pressure on governments and
the UN to respond quickly to human suffering. The idea of human security emerged to: Protect civilians
during and after conflicts. Prevent violence before it occurs. Support recovery after war or disaster. Thus,
humanitarian action (aid and relief) was seen as incomplete without conflict prevention and post-war
reconstruction.
4. Canada and the Human Security Agenda
Canada played a pioneering role in promoting the concept globally. Under Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy
(1996–2000), Canada made human security a cornerstone of its foreign policy. Axworthy stated: 'It is an
effort to construct a global society where the safety of the individual is at the centre of international
priorities… and where those who violate these standards are held fully accountable.' Canada's Human
Security Agenda included: Protection of Civilians in armed conflict. Peace Support Operations
(peacekeeping and humanitarian missions). Good Governance and Accountability. Public Safety (controlling
small arms, anti-landmine campaigns). Conflict Prevention and early warning systems. Examples of
Implementation: Arms Control: Canada was instrumental in the Ottawa Treaty (1997) banning landmines.
Peacebuilding Aid: Support for reconstruction in Bosnia after the Yugoslav wars. Early Warning: Support for
improving UN preventive diplomacy. Legal Accountability: Active role in establishing the International
Criminal Court (ICC) in 2002.
5. Criticisms of Human Security
While widely supported, the concept also faces criticism. Critics say it is too broad and vague, as it includes
too many issues—poverty, health, crime, environment—making it difficult to define or implement precisely.
Many argue that all these issues were already part of development and foreign policy discussions. Some
realists call it 'pulpit diplomacy' or 'foreign policy for wimps' because it weakens national interests. Others
claim it threatens sovereignty by allowing foreign interference in domestic matters. There are also fears that
it could justify unlimited UN humanitarian interventions. Despite these objections, supporters argue that
human security offers a coherent, people-centered framework for addressing global threats.
6. Related Concepts
Human Development – Mutually reinforcing. Human development expands choices; human security protects
those choices. Human Rights – Interdependent. The right to life, liberty, and security of person (Article 3,
UDHR) is a core element of human security. National Security – Complementary, not contradictory. States
need to protect both borders and people; a state cannot be secure if its people live in fear or poverty.
7. Human Security in International Relations (IR)
Human security brings a new dimension to traditional security theories, particularly realism and liberalism.
The state-centered model focuses on protecting the state from external threats, rooted in realism and military
strength. The human security model, rooted in liberalism, emphasizes cooperation, human rights, and
people’s well-being. Example: The Cold War arms race (state security) vs. campaigns to end child soldiers
and promote health security (human security). It broadens the idea of peace by showing that when
individuals are insecure, international peace is at risk. Poverty and instability can lead to terrorism, migration,
or disease outbreaks affecting global stability.
8. Conclusion
Human security marks a shift from protecting states to protecting people. It recognizes that threats to
individuals—like poverty, disease, environmental degradation, and violence—are just as dangerous to global
peace as military threats. In short: Human Security = Freedom from Fear + Freedom from Want. It
complements national security to achieve lasting peace and sustainable development.