To learn more about our longstanding commitment to addressing human security issues, please visit link to the Coalition Advocating Human Security.

What is Human Security?

The concept of human security received its most familiar definition by the United Nations Development Program. Finding that "security has far too long been interpreted narrowly: as security of territory... or as protection of national interests... or as global security from the threat of nuclear holocaust.... Forgotten were the legitimate concerns of ordinary people who sought security in their daily lives." UNDP suggests “human security” as a concept that can recover the earlier on-the-ground focus of the state’s security practices. Human security can be said to have two main aspects. It means, first, safety from such chronic threats as hunger, disease and repression. And second, it means protection from sudden and hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life.

Human Security: Empowerment and Protection

Human security means protecting vital freedoms. It means protecting people from critical and pervasive threats and situations, building on their strengths and aspirations. It also means creating systems that give people the building blocks of survival, dignity and livelihood. To do this, it offers two general strategies: protection and empowerment. Protection shields people from dangers. Empowerment enables people to develop their potential and become full participants in decision-making.

- Report of the UN Commission on Human Security (2003)

Addressing Human Security Challenges

CUSA has a long history of activities that address human security challenges. Our research into human security issues suggests that activities which boost human security sharply reduce the attraction of forms of political violence and crime that threaten the interests and national security of America and its allies. The results of our multi-year study on landmines comprise the edited volume Landmines and Human Security, and show that humanitarian efforts, such as landmine clearance and landmine victim assistance, can be low cost, high impact strategies to promote peace and prosperity. CUSA activities on human security issues is described in more detail today.

Microfinance, Human Security and Sustainable Development

The microfinance industry arose in the 1970s to assist those too poor to qualify for services from traditional banks, and inadequately served by government programs. The initial goal was to provide small loans to help start up or expand small businesses. It might seem that the poorest people in the world would pose an insurmountable risk to lenders, but, through a series of carefully-conceived measures, this strategy has been extremely effective. Indeed, by 2004, some 92 million clients had been served by over 3,000 microfinance institutions.

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Genocide and Human Security

Throughout history there have been attempts to systematically eradicate entire peoples.

The victims of genocide are often, but not always, groups that are well-defined by geography, culture and history. They are inevitably much less powerful than their aggressors, and thus they have great difficulty in defending themselves. In the early stages of genocide, the victims are likely to be segregated physically, marginalized in the workplace, stripped of legal protection, denied government services, and left exposed to disease, poverty and harassment. The outburst of violence they ultimately face is carefully prepared and organized, and its perpetrators often have undergone special training.

In spite of its long history, the term “genocide” was coined only in 1944, by the legal scholar Raphael Lemkin, to name the brutality of the Holocaust (from genos, Greek for “family or tribe,” and cideo, Latin for “to massacre”). Dr. Lemkin and many others seized the opportunity afforded by the end of World War II to rally and institutionalize a global commitment to prevent and punish the crime of genocide.

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Research on Human Security

CUSA is committed to undertaking high quality research that involves social and natural scientists to address the pressing security challenges of the 21st century. See the box below for citations for some of the publications that have resulted from our research projects. The Center for Unconventional Security Affairs has a legacy of successful activities related to our research projects on human security, including:

Outreach on Human Security Issues

Beyond high quality research, CUSA is also committed to creating forum s where members of our community can learn about critical issues. As an example, during 2001-2002, we partnered with local organizations to host a series of three workshops on the causes and consequences of 9/11, especially with regard to Afghanistan.

Education on Human Security Issues

CUSA's educational component includes training programs for security professionals and first responders as well as degree programs at the graduate level. Our Master's and Doctoral Programs are interdisciplinary and weave together perspectives from the social and natural sciences. In recent years we have developed and offered courses on:

Links to More Information

• Global Environmental Change and Human Security Project (GECHS)

• Global Environmental Change and Human Security Project Office at UCI (GECHS-UCI)

• IUCN Project on Sustainable Livelihoods, Environmental Security and Conflict Mitigation

• The World Conservation Union (IUCN)

• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)