Human Security and Responsibility to Protect – Challenges and Intersections

Abstract

As ongoing crises affect international peace and security worldwide and have enormous implications for the global system as a whole (increasing food insecurity and poverty, declining social incomes, limited access to affordable energy, etc.), human security is becoming increasingly important. Although the two concepts – human security and the responsibility to protect (RtoP) – are distinct, they share similar societal origins. They both serve common fundamental values of humanity, such as freedom, equality, solidarity, and respect for human rights. This paper focuses on several questions: How can both human security and RtoP contribute to the protection of fundamental values of humanity? Is it possible to increase the strength and resilience of society to address threats and risks to both concepts in an appropriate and timely manner, especially those that arise as a result of political, social or economic challenges? Since human security and RtoP are not the same, what is the difference between them? If it is agreed that they are similar, where do they overlap? And, given their importance, what actions can states take to promote and strengthen these valuable concepts?