Human security — English

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Human security

Protection of collectivities and individuals against physical, psychological and moral harm due to political or civil violence, legal malgovernance, food, water, health and environmental hazards, and/or the threat of such sources of harm.

In other words, human security is the protection ensuring life, livelihood, just treatment, dignity and the freedom from fear of political or civil harm, injustice and life-affecting hazards.

March 2016

Historic definition (UNDP Human Development Report, Dr. Mahbub Ul Haq, 1994)

Human protection against 7 threats of insecurity: economic, food, health, environmental, personal, community and political insecurity.

UN Commission on Human Security (Human Security Now Report, 2003)
Protection of "the vital core of all human lives in ways that enhance human freedoms and human fulfillment. Human security means protecting fundamental freedoms – freedoms that are the essence of life. It means protecting people from critical (severe) and pervasive (widespread) threats and situations. It means using processes that build on people’s strengths and aspirations. It means creating political, social, environmental, economic, military and cultural systems that together give people the building blocks of survival, livelihood and dignity."

"Human security is far more than the absence of violent conflict. It encompasses human rights, good governance and access to economic opportunity, education and health care. It is a concept that comprehensively addresses both "freedom from fear" and "freedom from want".