Why should we do volunteering in Cambodia? Why should we care about the lives of people there? Most of us are Chinese and shall we care the people in China first? Why should we care the people in other nations? Would other nations become a threat if they grow economically and politically stronger than our nation? Why Humanity in Focus' overseas projects adopt a bottom-up approach?
Human security can be part of the answer.
Human security refers to an emerging paradigm for understanding global vulnerabilities whose proponents challenge the traditional notion of national security by arguing that the proper referent for security should be the individual rather than the state. Human security holds that a people-centered view of security is necessary for national, regional and global stability.
This concept is first introduced by the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report 1994. In the report, it suggested that the scope of global security should be expanded to include threats in seven areas:
Human security can be part of the answer.
Human security refers to an emerging paradigm for understanding global vulnerabilities whose proponents challenge the traditional notion of national security by arguing that the proper referent for security should be the individual rather than the state. Human security holds that a people-centered view of security is necessary for national, regional and global stability.
This concept is first introduced by the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report 1994. In the report, it suggested that the scope of global security should be expanded to include threats in seven areas:
1. Economic security
2. Food security
3. Health security
4. Environmental security
5. Personal security
6. Community security
7. Political security
Human security is different from national security. National security stresses on the survival of nation-states, while human security stresses on the survival of individuals. It believes that it is the survival of individuals which affect the survival of nation-states. Therefore, given that these areas of security are highly interrelated, human security advocates focus on human development worldwide rather than political and economic power of nations.
Human security is somehow different from human rights. Generally, when we talk about human rights, we would usually think of one's freedom and basic rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion etc. On the other hand, human security concept does not only talk about this. It also talks about broader issues such as the sustainability of the environment and humanitarian aid.
Human security also emphasizes the empowerment of civil society. It believes that both top-down and bottom up approach shall be used to tackle human security problems. Therefore, it advocates the growth of local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) since they are in the best position to evaluate what they need. HIF's partner, Village Focus International, has been using this approach as well. Volunteers of the Battambang Fellowship are assigned to stay in different villages for various months to establish relationship with villagers and then teach villagers how to write proposals to the government for development rather than write the proposals themselves.
The rationale of the global citizenship concept is indeed similar. It focuses on people-oriented goals and the potentials of each citizen in the world. Therefore, HIF puts forward the idea of young advocates - collective power of the youth could make a difference in the world. In addition, HIF also supports small scale overseas projects for the empowerment of villagers in Cambodia.
Human security is different from national security. National security stresses on the survival of nation-states, while human security stresses on the survival of individuals. It believes that it is the survival of individuals which affect the survival of nation-states. Therefore, given that these areas of security are highly interrelated, human security advocates focus on human development worldwide rather than political and economic power of nations.
Human security is somehow different from human rights. Generally, when we talk about human rights, we would usually think of one's freedom and basic rights such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion etc. On the other hand, human security concept does not only talk about this. It also talks about broader issues such as the sustainability of the environment and humanitarian aid.
Human security also emphasizes the empowerment of civil society. It believes that both top-down and bottom up approach shall be used to tackle human security problems. Therefore, it advocates the growth of local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) since they are in the best position to evaluate what they need. HIF's partner, Village Focus International, has been using this approach as well. Volunteers of the Battambang Fellowship are assigned to stay in different villages for various months to establish relationship with villagers and then teach villagers how to write proposals to the government for development rather than write the proposals themselves.
The rationale of the global citizenship concept is indeed similar. It focuses on people-oriented goals and the potentials of each citizen in the world. Therefore, HIF puts forward the idea of young advocates - collective power of the youth could make a difference in the world. In addition, HIF also supports small scale overseas projects for the empowerment of villagers in Cambodia.
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