# Human Security —Dissemination and Implementation of the Concept—

In addition to taking the lead in emphasizing the concept of human security from the 1990s, Japan has been translating its concept into practical actions as a pioneer. In the globalized international community, the state still retains a primary role in protecting the citizens of the nation. However, to effectively deal with global issues, it is also true that there will be certain cases, such as when the government fails to function due to conflict, etc., in which the state cannot completely protect the people through the traditional practice of “national security,” that means the state protects the country's borders and people. Accordingly, the concept has been advocated as a way to complement and enhance efforts to ensure the national security, focusing on each individual person.

A camp for internally displaced persons in Kabul, Afghanistan. The mud homes were made by the refugees themselves. (Photo: Mika Tanimoto/JICA)

To promote human security, it is necessary for domestic and overseas governments, international organizations, civil society, and other related parties to understand the importance of human security in the first place. To accomplish this, Japan not only takes the lead in discussions at the UN, for example, but also cooperates with international forums, conferences, and NGOs. In addition, in January 2011, a session on human security was held at the Davos Forum (World Economic Forum).

Moreover, through the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security that was established in 1999 under the initiative of Japan, Japan has supported concrete projects consistent with the concept of human security, contributing ¥40.2 billion (approximately $360 million) in total up to this point, implementing 206 projects in 121 countries and regions. In addition, on its own, Japan has implemented 1,176 projects in 122 countries and 1 region in FY2010 alone through grassroots human security grant aid.

One example of assistance provided through the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security is the “Integrated Community Empowerment and Peacebuilding Support Project in Ituri” in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In this project, Japan cooperated with four international organizations—the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)—to conduct activities to strengthen the ability of individuals and communities in the diverse fields including agriculture, the fishing industry, and stockbreeding. The activities included technical guidance, repair of local government facilities, training for medical professionals, and providing health and hygiene education for residents. Further, Japan has used bilateral aid in the form of supplementation of these types of assistance to enable comprehensive, diverse, and multilayered aid to the communities.

The three approaches of human security, in short, (i) a people-centered approach that emphasizes not only “protection” of people and their communities from threats but also “empowerment” to allow them to determine and implement action by themselves to deal with those threats, (ii) a comprehensive, cross-sectional approach, and (iii) a participatory approach that emphasizes collaboration and coordination among national and local governments, international organizations, NGOs, civil society, and a variety of actors in development activities, are not only concepts that will be crucial to aid in the future, but also important viewpoints to ensure another vital key, “equity.”