Concept Note

   In the post-Cold War world, the concept of security has evolved from the traditional notion of ‘national security’ to the people-centric concept of ‘human security.’ To quote from the UN General Assembly Resolution 66/290, “Human security calls for “people-centred, comprehensive, context-specific and prevention-oriented responses that strengthen the protection and empowerment of all people.” Today, in the context of the pandemic, identity-based divisions, climate crisis, economic insecurity, and more, the questions we grapple with are: (a) who ensures human security? (b) what is the process of getting to peace by ensuring human security (c) how can we ensure human security is central to our programs in development and peacebuilding? A human security lens and approach argues that while the state has the responsibility to provide security to its people, the people themselves can define and take charge of their own security needs. In short, we believe that it is through good governance, which involves conversations and collaboration between governments, institutions, and people, to make the right decisions that will protect human lives and alleviate human suffering. As the Commission on Global Governance report states, governance “is an ongoing and evolutionary process which looks to reconcile conflicting interests to protect the weak, through the rule of law, from unjust exploitation, and introduce security for all.”

   So, we can say it is an ongoing and evolutionary process which looks to reconcile conflicting interests in order to protect the weak through the rule of law from unjust exploitation, and to introduce security for all. Governance is also a process through which collective good and goods (including security) are generated, or their production facilitated, so that all are better off than they would be acting individually. Thus, governance implies a concern by those who govern with both the security and development, or provision/facilitation of Basic Human Needs, of those who are governed. Or, in other words, ‘Governance’’ encompasses all governing bodies including nation-state as well as all non-governmental organizations like International Organizations, Multinational Organizations and Civil Society Organizations.

   Thus human security is a human right, and governance ensures human rights (political, social, economic, cultural, and civil) through its key attributes (identified by the Human Rights Council): transparency, responsibility, accountability, participation, and responsiveness to the needs of the people.

   International Conference on Human Security & Governance will focus on all three aspects of security – Freedom from Want, Freedom from Fear, and Freedom from Indignity to analyse the role and functioning of nation-states as well as actors like international organisations, multinational organisations, lobbies, think tanks, political parties, non- governmental organizations, community, media in securing human security goals. Furthermore, this Conference aims to create a network and support the international community of academicians, researchers, scholars, and scientists by promoting an exchange of the latest trends, developments, and challenges in the field.