1. Human security from the bottom-up: foundations for the new generation
Oscar A. Gómez
Doshisha Univeristy
Applying the Human Security Approach at the National level
2 October 2013, 15:00-18:00
United Nations, New York

2. Gómez, Gasper and Mine (2013)

3. Introduction
A good moment to engage with human security ideas/practice/ experimentation/innovation
No need to prove the viability of the concept
No need to choose between sides…
… or to fix a set of threats from the outset
Benefit from a growing pool of resources and experiences

4. The GA resolution of 2012 Fear, Want and Dignity
People-centred, comprehensive, context-specific and prevention-oriented responses that strengthen the protection and empowerment
Interlinkages between peace, development and all human rights
Distinct from R2P
Not entail the threat or the use of force or coercive measures, neither replaces State security

5. Message: Many more local experiences are needed!
The GA resolution of 2012
Human security is based on national ownership;
Governments retain the primary role and responsibility for ensuring the survival, livelihood and dignity of their citizens;
Human security must be implemented with full respect for the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations
Message: Many more local experiences are needed!

6. Into national experiences
What is needed to understand/motivate national experiences fleshing out the notion of human security?
Identifing historic processes that have demanded/would benefit from a re-understanding of the notion
And advancing comparisons that allow different actors to envision the benefits of so doing.

7. Into national experiences
Citizen security: A different meaning of the end of the Cold War
Uses:
Re-invent the institution of the police
Study crime in systematic and scientific way
Later to include a holistic connection to social policy
Both address the objective and subjective components of crime related insecurity
And then broaden the reach to all the rule of law institutions

8. Into national experiences
Significant advances and opportunities
Some success in promoting reform and regaining trust
Building knowledge about crime
Periodically capturing information about the perception of insecurity and its interlinkages with a wider picture of society
Developing tools for analysis and initiatives for action.

9. Into national experiences
But also some risks:
Framing security as of ‘citizens’ can be excluding
The focus on institutions can bring back the ‘means over the ends’ bias.
Untapped interlinkages that can produce positive change
May not be enough to deal with the perception bias

10. More than citizens
Latvia, Moldova, Chile and the Philippines addressing social exclusion:
Exploring the root causes of exclusion
Finding: it is not necessarily connected to (lack of) development
Showing how denizens are rather similar—binding together

11. More than citizens
Global agreement about migration as adaptation in the climate change framework
Persistently presented as a consequence and as a security threat derived from climate change
In the COP 2011 in Cancun, groups that have been working around human security managed to introduce a change in the perspective

12. Dealing with ‘means over ends’
Latvian spearheading experience:
Starts with a NHD Report (2002/2003)
Comparing a comprehensive list of threats (personal and social)
Identifying priorities but…
also the roles of actors at different levels in the provision of security

13. Dealing with ‘means over ends’
Latvian showcase:
Starts with a NHD Report (2002/2003)
Development of the idea of securitability
The process moves to universities and local governments
National Development Plan on Human Securitability 2012 (a form of resilience)
Strengthening human securitability - any role in Latvia's EU presidency in 2015
NGO research on human securitability
Small policy gains in human securitablity

14. Untapped interlinkages
Human security in the Philippines
Peace
Security Sector Reform
(Human) Development HS
Nation-Building role
Development Aggression
Policing
National Security Framework
Human
Rights
Anti-terrorism legislation
(Human Security Act)
Source: Gomez (2011)

15. Addressing the perception bias
Identified mismatches of threat perception through citizen security:
In Costa Rica, 64.4% of the interviewees believe violent acts were committed by Nicaraguans. Reality: 90% is committed by Costa Ricans
In Uruguay, 57% of the population believes that most of the crimes are committed by youth. Reality: depending on the kind of crime, it goes between 43,4% (violent theft) to 0,9% (injuries)

16. Addressing the perception bias
It is not only about crime
Disasters
Nutrition
Crime
Migrants

17. Addressing the perception bias
Ways to influence the misperception of threats through human security ideas:
Wider mappings of threats—Arab countries, Thailand, Latvia, Benin

18. Addressing the perception bias
Three ways to influence the misperception of threats:
Wider mappings of threats—Arab countries, Thailand, Latvia, Benin
Making cost-benefit and trade-off analyses

19. Addressing the perception bias
Three ways to influence the misperception of threats:
Wider mappings of threats—Arab countries, Thailand, Latvia, Benin
Making cost-benefit and trade-off analyses
Involving other actors, as the media
Presenting some threats as opportunities too!
Migrants
Food crisis in Mali

20. Final comments
A new generation of human security theory / practice / experimentation / innovation, that gives more attention to national experiences
Following local processes of evolution on the notion of security, but influenced by experiences elsewhere
In general, national experiences attest to human security strength exploring the subjective side of insecurity, addressing misperceptions of threats
Guiding the evolution of security institutions
Informing debates about priorities (and national statistics)
Allowing the convergence of different stakeholders to produce inclusive solutions