Advocating global security

The 1995 International Development Conference "Achieving Global Human Security" (Washington, January 1995) discussed issues of environment and population; food and hunger; human rights; peace-building and conflict resolution; sustainable human development; development education; and public policy and advocacy.

1. The concept of security must evolve from defending national territory to advancing human well-being. It must be broadened from the traditional focus on the security of states to include the security of people and the security of the planet. The following six concepts should be embedded in international agreements and used as norms for security policies in the future: (a) all people, no less than states, have a right to a secure existence, and all states have an obligation to protect those rights; (b) the primary goals of global security policy should be to prevent conflict and war and to maintain the integrity of the environment and life-support system of the planet by eliminating economic, social, environmental, political, and military conditions that generate threats to the security of people and the plant, and by anticipating and managing crises before they escalate into armed conflicts; (c) military force is not a legitimate political instrument, except in self-defence or under United nations auspices; (d) the development of military capabilities beyond that required by national defence and support of United Nations action is a potential threat to the security of people; (e) weapons of mass destruction are not legitimate instruments of national defence; (f) the production and trade in arms should be controlled by the international community.

1. Providing framework
2. Promoting interests
3. Globalizing
4. Forming transnational political interdependence

1. Establishing policy to ensure global food security

1. Strengthening cooperative security measures
2. Reducing threats to human security
3. Promoting internationalism
4. Preserving law and order
5. Maintaining global security

1. Researching global security issues

1. Unaware
2. Security
3. Nonglobalized
4. Insecurity
5. Awareness