Press conference by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the meetings of NATO Defence Ministers at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on 17 and 18 February 2021.

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

NATO  said  Human Security is a priority in efforts  in the protection of civilians; children and armed conflict; countering trafficking in human beings.  On 25 February 2021, at a high-level online conference, NATO discussed how to enhance its human security approach as part of a broader collective effort with an international community of interest including national experts, civil society, think tank and academic representatives.  NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg opened the event. Human security is ‘at the heart of who we are and what we do: an Alliance working together to protect our people and our values – freedom, equality, human rights’, he said. ‘Taking a human security approach is the best way to achieve lasting peace and security’.  The Digital Dialogue on Human Security in NATO was moderated by Dr. Jamie Shea and brought together more than 500  participants. Clare Hutchinson, the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Professor Mary Kaldor, The London School of Economics and Political Science, Dr. Walter Dorn, Royal Military College of Canada and the Canadian Forces College, Eva Svoboda, International Committee of the Red Cross, also participated in the event.

“Human Security is about Protecting civilians”    – Mary  Kaldor  

(cgt.columbia.edu)    Professor Mary Kaldor, The London School of Economics and Political Science

“Human Security is a much holistic theme. It is not about security of people living in the  Trans Atlantic area. It is about the security of people living in Afghanistan and the Congo. Human Security is not  about defeating the enemy.  Human Security is about protecting civilians. Is defeating the enemy the priority or protecting civilians is the question. Human Security is even more important now, and more relevant for NATO because of the COVID moment. Because COVID is a Human Security issue. There is very poor health care in conflict areas. The goal should be more about protecting civilians rather than protecting from terrorism.”

-Professor Mary Kaldor, The London School of Economics and Political Science

NATO’s five main lines of effort under Human Security are: the protection of civilians; children and armed conflict; countering trafficking in human beings; preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence; and cultural property protection.

At NATO’s 2019 Leaders’ Meeting in London, Allies had agreed to step up NATO’s role in human security. In the coming months, new achievements are expected with the development of a NATO policy on preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence and the update of NATO’s policy on countering trafficking in human beings. NATO’s 2030 initiative will help take this agenda forward.