PDF: 24KB
Annex 3
The First Meeting of the Commission on Human Security
Press Release by the Co-Chairs,
UN Secretariat, 11 June 2001
The survival and dignity of millions of people today are threatened by adversities such as conflicts, poverty, infectious diseases and human rights violations. The challenges of globalization affect communities and individuals unevenly. These problems are not adequately addressed by conventional approaches. The UN Secretary-General has called the world community to advance the twin goals of "freedom from want" and "freedom from fear." A new human-centered approach has to be developed if these issues are to be addressed in an effective and comprehensive way.
The newly formed Commission on Human Security met on June 8,9, and 10 at the Greentree Estate, Long Island, co-chaired by Mrs. Sadako Ogata, former UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and Prof. Amartya Sen, Nobel laureate and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, with the participation of distinguished Commissioners from around the world (list attached).
The goals of the Commission are three-fold:
- to provide public understanding, engagement and support of human security and its underlying imperatives;
- to develop the concept of human security as an operational tool for policy formulation and implementation; and
- to propose a concrete program of action to address critical and pervasive threats to human security.
To achieve these goals, the Commission will attempt to develop comprehensive approaches, closely incorporating development and humanitarian concerns. In doing so, it will take note of existing initiatives and advance an integrated framework for launching collaborative action. The Commissioners examined the approaches linking poverty and vulnerabilities with the reduction of conflicts. They also considered the various adversities arising from social inequalities, identify conflicts and human rights violations.
The Commission will consult with governments, international organizations, NGOs and other parts of civil society. The Commission plans to complete its work by early 2003 by which it expects to finalize a plan of action with the widest possible reach.
|
