Personal Security

"Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free." 

14th Dalai Lama

February 16, 2023 

Akshat Somvanshi | 2201019 | akshat.somvanshi22b@iiitg.ac.in

The phrase "personal security" originally emerged in the 1994 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme, which stated that threats to seven sectors, including personal security, should be included in the definition of global security. Personal security is to protect people from physical violence, whether it originates from the government, other countries, aggressive people, spousal abuse, or predatory adults. The four sorts of freedoms that US President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed to be inalienable rights of every person in his 1941 proclamation of human rights form the foundation for personal security. These include the freedom to express oneself freely, to live without hunger or terror, and to worship God however one chooses. It covers a range of ideas and programs meant to stop and lessen violence, improve public safety and access to justice, promote social cohesion, and increase the rights and obligations of both states and citizens.

Armed Conflict and Personal Security

 Since the two World Wars, the armed conflict has posed a substantial and immediate threat to numerous people all over the world, making it a reliable indication of the level of personal security. Numerous limits on the manufacture, retention and use of particular types of weapons have been put in place out of regard for the lives and suffering of those exposed to the devastation of war. One crucial aspect of the concept of personal security is the reduction of armed violence. In recent years, several alliances have been created to regulate the development of nuclear weapons, and international treaties that forbid the production, storage, and deployment of chemical, gas, and biological weapons have also been developed. The new UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) offers hope for a further decline in armed attacks against civilians, which would positively impact people's living standards, healthcare, and education. By enhancing accountability and openness in global arms trade regulation, the treaty aims to create a more secure environment for everyone who faces the threat of violence.

Gender Based violence as a personal security issue 

In light of the growing recognition of human-centered security concepts, gender concerns are now acknowledged as having an impact on security. Women have struggled for their right to safety and justice—the right to live free from abuse and discrimination and participate in decision-making—for decades, if not centuries. The root cause of gender-based violence is gender inequality, more precisely the unequal power that men and women wield in society, both in the public domain (politics, business) and in the private, intimate, and family spheres. Feminist scholars were most influenced by the idea of personal security because it gave them a vocabulary to discuss the numerous types of interpersonal and institutional violence women experience in more general discussions of security. In times of war, women are frequently the targets of violence. In addition to the different types of violence women encounter in "everyday circumstances," a lack of equitable access to opportunities, resources, and services endangers their fundamental well-being. To stop and prevent gender-based violence, institutional and policy measures are needed. The Council of Europe's Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, generally known as the Istanbul Convention, condemns all forms of abuse. The convention seeks to safeguard victims, end violence, and abolish felony impunity.

 Personal Security as a deterrent to crime

Smuggling, drug production and trafficking, child trafficking, and cybercrime are all serious human rights violations. These crimes occur in every country across the globe and pose a serious threat to personal security. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is dedicated to ensuring that states have the knowledge, skills, and commitment to effectively prevent and address these crimes in person while protecting victims' rights. Controlled drug production and trafficking wreak havoc on communities, undermine security and stymie development. UNODC advocates for human rights-based drug control policies that address both the root causes of the global drug problem and its socioeconomic consequences. By providing economically viable, legal alternatives to growing coca, opium poppy, or cannabis plants, the UNODC supports Member States' efforts to encourage farmers to abandon illicit drug cultivation. UNODC focuses on environmental protection while also improving access to local and international markets for alternative development products in this context. These measures aim to reduce not only illegal drug crop cultivation, but also poverty, food insecurity, and environmental harm.

Personal security, in particular, is an imperfect label. Several other categories, if not all, are also 'personal,' such as health, access to adequate food, income, and employment, as well as civil liberties (under 'political security,' which includes freely chosen and respected community membership). Given the vast spectrum of personal security, some authors have sought to limit the concept of "human security" to what the 1994 HDR designated as personal security.