09 March 2010
























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"Friends of Human Security” Call for GA Debate

New York, 22 December 2009 – The informal grouping known as the “Friends of Human Security” held its seventh meeting on Thursday, 10 December. The meeting was chaired by Ambassadors Claude Heller of Mexico and Yukio Takasu of Japan.

United Nations Member States, agencies and civil society members participated in a discussion on the impacts of the economic crisis on human security, progress towards the Millennium Development Goals, health and food security, climate change, peacebuilding, and the protection of civilians. 

States expressed dissatisfaction with the broad use of the term “human security” and advocated for a legal definition. Some proposed a GA debate on the subject. Participants also were looking forward to receiving a report on human security by the Secretary-General, which FHS requested earlier this year.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes attended as a coordinator of the meeting, providing remarks on the human security debate at the UN.

The group’s next meeting will take place after Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon presents his report on human security to the General Assembly. The report is expected in Spring 2010. 

Background

The Friends of Human Security (FHS) is an informal, open-ended group of supporters of human security, consisting primarily of Member State representatives and international organizations. The group meets every six months to discuss the concept of human security and ways to integrate it into the UN’s activities. The meetings are co-organized by the delegations of Japan and Mexico and the Human Security Unit of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

FHS was formed in October 2006 to follow up on the September 2005 World Summit commitment that the GA would define “human security” (OP 143). Pursuing a legal definition of human security currently is considered unrealistic, however. Thus, FHS’ aim is to “seek a common understanding of human security and explore collaborative efforts for mainstreaming it in UN activities.”

At the previous FHS meeting, in June 2009, the group agreed to request a report on human security from the Secretary-General, and they met with him on June 17, 2009.

At the June meeting FHS also discussed possible intergovernmental processes on human security, including a panel discussion, a formal discussion under GA agenda item 48 (Integrated and coordinated implementation of and follow-up to the outcomes of the major United Nations conferences and summits in the economic, social and related fields) or item 114 (Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit), and preparation of the upcoming High-level Plenary on development in September 2010.

(For more information on the UN’s work on human security see Latest Development #224: UN Member States Meeting on Human Security This Week, 6 November 2007.)

Requested Report of Secretary-General

Member States requested the Secretary-General to prepare a report on human security in June 2009.

At this month’s meeting, John Holmes noted that the forthcoming report’s content had not yet been determined and did not comment extensively on it.

FHS Meeting on 10 December

On 10 December, FHS met to review progress on several issues over the last six months.

Key topics included:

  • Definition of human security, and potentially holding a debate in the General Assembly on the subject; and

  • Thematic areas of human security, including:

    • Impact of the economic crisis, with respect to migration, gross national happiness, and the achievement of the millennium development goals,

    • Health,

    • Food security,

    • Climate change,

    • Peacebuilding, and

    • Protection of civilians.

Defining Human Security

While there is no legal definition for human security at the UN, the current working definition is “the protection of the vital core of all human lives in ways that enhance human freedoms and human fulfillment,” according to the UN Commission on Human Security. The concept further entails “protecting people from critical and pervasive threats and situations,” while “creating political, social, environmental, economic, military and cultural systems that together give people the building blocks of survival, livelihood and dignity” (Human Security Now, 2003).

At the meeting on 10 December, many States expressed frustration over the ongoing lack of a precise definition for human security. The schedule of thematic presentations at the meeting, States noted, exemplified its overly broad conception. Further, the idea of human security should not be applied to a vast array of issues without due consideration of its fundamental meaning. This approach threatens potential legal requisites of human security.

Member States further noted that:

  • The thematic outline for human security presented at the meeting was too ambitious, and to try to apply the concept of human security to such a vast array of areas as proposed in this and previous meetings, would require an unwanted “restructur[ing] [of] the entire UN system.” (Egypt)

  • More information on the background of the concept would be needed in order to reach a definition of the concept. Slovenia proposed an expert panel discussion on human security and a formal General Assembly debate on the subject, searching for a clear definition.

  • The definition should include environmental, economic and health concerns. Jamaica noted that the 2010 review of the Peacebuilding Commission must include the notion of human security and its integration into the work of the PBC. 

Discussion of Thematic Areas

States made presentations on six thematic areas of human security and the pressing challenges for each. 

  1. Impact of the Economic Crisis, with respect to:

  • Migration: The human security of migrants was described as an issue “of paramount concern” in the present economic climate, with potentially profound affects on development the world over. The Philippines stressed the need to consider a human security perspective in all development initiatives and forums, such as the informal and voluntary Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD). Finally, in defense of the vitally important global migrant population, the Philippines’ representative stressed the legal weight of the International Convention of the Rights of Migrant Workers, as a tool to lower barriers to mobility. 

  • Gross National Happiness: Bhutan spoke about reassessing existing notions of good governance, including evaluations of success in social policy and governments’ general assessment of human security. The representative urged other States to introduce the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) as an alternative method of governance and social planning, saying that it had the potential to alter the way governments face economic challenges and assess the wellbeing of their populations.

  • Millennium Development Goals: Senegal, addressing “one of the most pressing challenges we face,” spoke on the challenges of achieving the MDGs from a human security perspective. The representative argued that the world is far from achieving the MDGs by the 2015 deadline, partly due to the lack of implementation of a number of development initiatives, such as education, health, sanitation efforts, and water. However, with improved implementation of these initiatives, progress could be made in the future. 

2.       Health

Norway spoke of an overall improvement in the life expectancies and general health of the world population. However, Africa and Asia lag dangerously behind and in some regions have even worsened. Using the example of child mortality and maternal health, Norway’s representative emphasized the ability of the international community to conquer health challenges through small contributions. Illustrating the progress and hopeful future of the health aspects of human security, Norway drew on the example of the H1N1 virus. This summer, major industrial countries came together and donated 10% of their own H1N1 vaccinations to developing countries across the globe.

3.       Food Security

Thailand asserted that, “without food security, there can be no human security.” However, “freedom from want” is threatened in the developing world by the economic crisis. Thailand challenged the international community to show “moderation and reason” in dealing with food security. 

4.       Climate Change

Papua New Guinea noted that small island nations are experiencing major climate change effects, and low-lying islands may soon experience displacement. According to the Secretary-General’s September 2009 report, “Climate Change and its Possible Security Implications” (A/64/350), almost 200 million people could be displaced by 2010 due to the effects of climate change, creating serious security challenges. Papua New Guinea emphasized the importance of Security Council involvement in climate change issues, especially with regard to displacement. 

5.       Peacebuilding

Jamaica’s representative emphasized a human security outlook on peacebuilding, stressing the need for a “people-centered” approach to peacebuilding. The Permanent Representative countered common misconceptions of human security, including as a threat to national sovereignty. He underscored state security and sovereignty, and human security, as mutually sustaining concepts. 

6.       Protection of Civilians

Austria emphasized the need for a clear definition of human security. In relation to Security Council Resolution 1894 on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Austria called on all Member States to live up to their promises in the Resolution.

Concluding Remarks

Under-Secretary-General John Holmes emphasized the severity and interconnectedness of human security threats in general, which present challenges to development, human rights, and security at once.

Holmes concurred that to leave human security so broad as to include all thematic issues discussed in the FHS’s seven meetings would greatly dilute the concept and its realistic potential. 

However, he noted that before a definition of human security could be reached, the level of ambition of Member States on the issue must be determined.

Next Steps

The Secretary-General is expected to submit a report on human security in the early months of 2010, which the GA then would discuss.

The next meeting of the FHS is scheduled for May 2010.

Documents

Agenda of the Seventh Meeting of the “Friends of Human Security”

Major Meeting Points of the Seventh Meeting of the “Friends of Human Security”

 

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