What is human security?

During recent years, the concept of ‘human security’ has become a rallying point for understanding and working with processes of (human) development in unstable environments.  Particularly the growing challenges posed by global environmental changes threaten to trigger a rapid escalation of conflicts throughout the world as competition over access to scarce resources intensifies, supplies of essential commodities dwindle and global population rates continue to increase.  Thus,  human security is more than the absence of physical aggression; it is about freedom from fear, but also about freedom from want and a life with dignity. 

The United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security has made a video that provides an easy introduction to the concept, you can click here to watch it.

If you are interested in learning more, the following sites provide comprehensive information (for instance lists or data sets) of relevance to human security:

• The Ford Institute for Human Security has gathered information about human security research, teaching, internships, and employment.
• The Fragile States Index contains extensive data about state fragility.
• The Human Security Collective provides a lot of investing material on human security.
• The Human Security e-Learning Course from the Citizens’ Network for Peace, Reconciliation and Human Security contains modules about different aspects of human security.
• The SDG Academy creates and curates free, graduate-level courses on sustainable development for students around the world.
• The United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security offers human security publications, photos, videos, and information about numerous human security projects.
• The Uppsala Conflict Data Programme contains data about conflicts all over the world.