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Media, Nonviolence &
Human Security
Human Security
About the Conference:
In this time of crisis in Palestine, we believe it is of the
utmost importance to organise and co- operate as
much as possible at every level in order to
counteract the escalating violence and minimize its
effects. One of the key influences in this respect is the
media, both as constantly reinforcing the image of
the “violent Palestinian”, and as, at least
superficially, lending legiti- macy to all the violence
that does take place. We hope that this conference
will lead to a strong movement of National
Coordination for Nonviolence.
“Human security means protecting vital freedoms. It
means protecting people from critical and pervasive
threats and situations, building on their strengths and
aspirations. It also means creating systems that give
people the building blocks of survival, dignity and
liveli- hood. To do this, it offers two general strategies:
protection and empowerment. Protection shields
people from dangers. Empowerment enables
people to develop their potential and become full
participants in decision-making. “
UNDP 2003
Human security can be opposed to military security.
Military security is the understanding that security of
the individual and of the state is best assured by
sophisticated military technology, and a strong and
well-disciplined army protecting state borders.
Human security is the view that real security has to
be undertaken at the level of individuals, and how
they can live their daily lives. It works from the premiss
that people are the most important concern in any
conflict and that their protection from all kinds of
violence is paramount.
Military security has been proved over and over
again in the Middle East conflict as in the world, to
be an illusion that in fact exacerbates the conflict
and feeds the cycle of violence. It has even been
described as “obsolete”. The human security
approach can not only lead to the urgently needed
protection of Palestinians, but can accompany the
state-building process and the general development
of potential.
It is time the human security approach is brought to
the forefront of the conflict here. This conference
aims to explore how to harness some of the
extraordinary power of the media to create a shift in
the paradigm of security from military to human.
- What can we do to protect people now?
- Is there a way to protect via nonviolence or to
make it so visible that it can deter military
attacks?
- Can we start to forge alliances between the
government and civil society so that for instance
there can be a “Ministry of Nonviolence” or a
national service requirement for youth for
“Nonviolent Defence”?
In this time of crisis in Palestine, we believe it is of the
utmost importance to organise and co- operate as
much as possible at every level in order to
counteract the escalating violence and minimize its
effects. One of the key influences in this respect is the
media, both as constantly reinforcing the image of
the “violent Palestinian”, and as, at least
superficially, lending legiti- macy to all the violence
that does take place. We hope that this conference
will lead to a strong movement of National
Coordination for Nonviolence.
“Human security means protecting vital freedoms. It
means protecting people from critical and pervasive
threats and situations, building on their strengths and
aspirations. It also means creating systems that give
people the building blocks of survival, dignity and
liveli- hood. To do this, it offers two general strategies:
protection and empowerment. Protection shields
people from dangers. Empowerment enables
people to develop their potential and become full
participants in decision-making. “
UNDP 2003
Human security can be opposed to military security.
Military security is the understanding that security of
the individual and of the state is best assured by
sophisticated military technology, and a strong and
well-disciplined army protecting state borders.
Human security is the view that real security has to
be undertaken at the level of individuals, and how
they can live their daily lives. It works from the premiss
that people are the most important concern in any
conflict and that their protection from all kinds of
violence is paramount.
Military security has been proved over and over
again in the Middle East conflict as in the world, to
be an illusion that in fact exacerbates the conflict
and feeds the cycle of violence. It has even been
described as “obsolete”. The human security
approach can not only lead to the urgently needed
protection of Palestinians, but can accompany the
state-building process and the general development
of potential.
It is time the human security approach is brought to
the forefront of the conflict here. This conference
aims to explore how to harness some of the
extraordinary power of the media to create a shift in
the paradigm of security from military to human.
- What can we do to protect people now?
- Is there a way to protect via nonviolence or to
make it so visible that it can deter military
attacks?
- Can we start to forge alliances between the
government and civil society so that for instance
there can be a “Ministry of Nonviolence” or a
national service requirement for youth for
“Nonviolent Defence”?
