The end of the Cold War, increased interdependence, and globalization have opened new opportunities for stability, growth, cooperation, innovation and exchange. At the same time, as we are all aware, this transformation has not been a panacea for peace. In particular it has not brought peace between or within nations. For this reason, I am pleased to attend this event on such a timely and important Theme, and to have this opportunity to talk with you about the issue of human security. Canada's Initiative Under Minister Lloyd Axworthy, Canada has been committed to advancing a human security agenda a little over two years.
Human security is now a central theme of our foreign policy.
In essence, it entails a commitment to addressing threats to people's rights, their physical safety, and even their lives. From a foreign policy perspective, human security is perhaps best understood as a shift in perspective or orientation. It takes people as its point of reference, rather than focusing exclusively on the security of territory or governments. This shift in focus challenges longstanding ways of thinking about international relations, which have until recently been state-centered, and organized around traditional concepts of national security and state sovereignty. In some quarters, this shift is generating resistance.