Human Human Security Security

Through a Through a Gendered Gendered

LensLensElena CasonElena Cason

Global Security: an Global Security: an Integrated ApproachIntegrated Approach

01 December 201101 December 2011

LayoutLayout

National Security

Human Security

Gender Security

The Shift of Power: Power The Shift of Power: Power Transition, Power Diffusion Transition, Power Diffusion and the Change of Global and the Change of Global

ActorsActors Two concepts of Two concepts of

sovereignty: from sovereignty: from control over one’s control over one’s borders to permeability borders to permeability of borders. (State of borders. (State Sovereignty ✒ Individual Sovereignty ✒ Individual Sovereignty)Sovereignty)

Two concepts of power:Two concepts of power:HARD POWER= the ability HARD POWER= the ability

to affect others and get to affect others and get the outcomes you want the outcomes you want (carrots &sticks system).(carrots &sticks system).

SOFT POWER= the ability SOFT POWER= the ability to get the outcomes you to get the outcomes you want through diplomatic want through diplomatic persuasion.persuasion.

The UN MachineThe UN Machine

The UN Machine 1The UN Machine 1

The Human Security The Human Security (Galtung model)(Galtung model)

‘ ‘ Human security involves Human security involves establishing machines, establishing machines, policies and structures that policies and structures that will ensure that individuals will ensure that individuals and communities enjoy and communities enjoy personal, structural and personal, structural and cultural security, in other cultural security, in other words,words, positive peace positive peace.’ (B. .’ (B. Muthien)Muthien)

Example of questions for the Example of questions for the assessment of human assessment of human security:security:

- Is this good for the Is this good for the environment?environment?

- Will this enable people to Will this enable people to meet their basic need?meet their basic need?

- Will this enhance people’s Will this enhance people’s identity and dignity?identity and dignity?

- Would this infringe upon the Would this infringe upon the protection of other people? protection of other people?

Human Security (UN Human Security (UN concept)concept)

The vital core of all human The vital core of all human lives in ways that enhance lives in ways that enhance human freedoms and human human freedoms and human fulfillment. Human security fulfillment. Human security means protecting fundamental means protecting fundamental freedoms – freedoms that are freedoms – freedoms that are the essence of life. It means the essence of life. It means protecting people from critical protecting people from critical (severe) and pervasive (severe) and pervasive (widespread) threats and (widespread) threats and situations. It means using situations. It means using processes that build on processes that build on people’s strengths and people’s strengths and aspirations. It means creating aspirations. It means creating political, social, environmental, political, social, environmental, economic, military and cultural economic, military and cultural systems that together give systems that together give people the building blocks of people the building blocks of survival, livelihood and dignity" survival, livelihood and dignity" [Human Security Now, p.4][Human Security Now, p.4]

‘‘Human security is both Human security is both freedom from want and freedom from want and freedom from fear’ (K. Annan)freedom from fear’ (K. Annan)

Women SecurityWomen Security(B. Reardon model)(B. Reardon model)

‘‘The remedies that could move the international The remedies that could move the international system closer to a sustainable system of human system closer to a sustainable system of human security lie in the demilitarisation of security in security lie in the demilitarisation of security in favour of non violent conflict […] committing favour of non violent conflict […] committing talent and global resources to fulfilling all security talent and global resources to fulfilling all security expectations within national, cultural and gender expectations within national, cultural and gender equity. […] Human security depends on gender equity. […] Human security depends on gender equality.’ ( Reardon)equality.’ ( Reardon)

‘ ‘ In crisis situation women are the best In crisis situation women are the best humanitarian workers.’ (S. Anderlini)humanitarian workers.’ (S. Anderlini)

‘‘Women hold up half the sky’. (Mao Zedong)Women hold up half the sky’. (Mao Zedong)

Historical Overview of Historical Overview of Women and the Security Women and the Security

ParadigmParadigm

Why to Focus on Why to Focus on

Why to Focus on Why to Focus on

1. GOOD GOVERNANCE= the ability to maintain social peace, 1. GOOD GOVERNANCE= the ability to maintain social peace, guarantee law and order and create or promote conditions guarantee law and order and create or promote conditions necessary for economic growth and ensure a minimum of social necessary for economic growth and ensure a minimum of social security.☞ Women prioritise education, health, empowerment.security.☞ Women prioritise education, health, empowerment.

2. LESS CORRUPTION= according to the World Bank one of the 2. LESS CORRUPTION= according to the World Bank one of the main indicator of good governance is the control of corruption.☞ main indicator of good governance is the control of corruption.☞ Women are more trustworthy and public-spirited since their Women are more trustworthy and public-spirited since their behaviour is always scrutinized.behaviour is always scrutinized.

3. DIPLOMACY= in order to stop the war it is necessary to enter in 3. DIPLOMACY= in order to stop the war it is necessary to enter in a bridge-builder mindset. ☞ Women are better mediator, they a bridge-builder mindset. ☞ Women are better mediator, they expect and promote dialogue and they have a tension lowering expect and promote dialogue and they have a tension lowering effect.effect.

POSITIVE DIVERSITY= in post-conflict situations multiple identities POSITIVE DIVERSITY= in post-conflict situations multiple identities can backfire. ☞ Women tend to play less on their ethnic, religious can backfire. ☞ Women tend to play less on their ethnic, religious etc. identity while still keeping plurality alive. etc. identity while still keeping plurality alive.

How to Translate the How to Translate the Rhetoric into Achievable Rhetoric into Achievable

Policy Standard Policy Standard ““to walk the walk and not just to talk the talk”:to walk the walk and not just to talk the talk”:

- International assistanceInternational assistance

- Help mission officers to use a gender perspectiveHelp mission officers to use a gender perspective

- Direct economic resource toward womenDirect economic resource toward women

- Enable governments and NGOs to become a Enable governments and NGOs to become a ‘pool’ of experiences and to work alongside ‘pool’ of experiences and to work alongside organisations in the field.organisations in the field.

(The case of Rwanda)(The case of Rwanda)

Still a Long Way to Still a Long Way to Go…Go…

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention!attention!

BibliographyBibliography

Acharya, A., ‘Human Security. East versus West’,Acharya, A., ‘Human Security. East versus West’, International Journal, 56 (2001), pp. 442- International Journal, 56 (2001), pp. 442-460460

Hunt, S. and Cristina Posa, ‘Women Waging Peace’, Hunt, S. and Cristina Posa, ‘Women Waging Peace’, Foreign Policy, Foreign Policy, 124 (2001), pp. 38- 47.124 (2001), pp. 38- 47.

Manchanda, R., ‘Women’s Agency in Peace Building. Gender relations in Post-Conflict Manchanda, R., ‘Women’s Agency in Peace Building. Gender relations in Post-Conflict Reconstruction’, Reconstruction’, Economic and Political Weekly, Economic and Political Weekly, 40 (2005), pp. 4737-474540 (2005), pp. 4737-4745

Muthien, B., ‘Human Security Paradigms through a Gendered Lens’, Muthien, B., ‘Human Security Paradigms through a Gendered Lens’, Agenda Feminista Agenda Feminista Media, Media, 43 (2000), pp45-56.43 (2000), pp45-56.

Joseph Nye, Joseph Nye, On Global Power Shift On Global Power Shift http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/joseph_nye_on_global_power_shifts.htmlhttp://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/joseph_nye_on_global_power_shifts.html

http://ochaonline.un.org/QA/tabid/2188/language/en-US/Default.aspxhttp://ochaonline.un.org/QA/tabid/2188/language/en-US/Default.aspx

http://www.eycb.coe.int/compass/en/chapter_5/print_5_10.htmlhttp://www.eycb.coe.int/compass/en/chapter_5/print_5_10.html

http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/women_war_peace/http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/women_war_peace/

Kofi Annan, Kofi Annan, Two Concepts of Sovereignty Two Concepts of Sovereignty http://www.economist.com/node/324795http://www.economist.com/node/324795

http://www.unifem.org/materials/item_detail.php?ProductID=186http://www.unifem.org/materials/item_detail.php?ProductID=186