Gender, Human Security and the United Nations

AbstractThe end of the Cold War opened a window of opportunity for the United Nations to play a greater role in international security than it was allowed to play in the midst of the ideological conflict between the United States and the former Soviet Union. However, the expected "peace dividend" never materialized in the post-Cold War period. Instead, a number of civil conflicts erupted and new threats to security, particularly to human security, emerged. This chapter critically examines the evolution of the UN's role in addressing international security problems since 1945, including global terrorism. It also outlines recent attempts by the world body, through extension of its reach beyond the territorial constraints of sovereignty, to build sustained peace through preventive measures and protect human security globally.

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The United Nations and low politics: Environmental & human security in East Asia*

Global Economic Review ◽

10.1080/12265080108449820 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 52-73

Author(s):

Shin‐wha Lee

Keyword(s):

United Nations ◽

East Asia ◽

Human Security ◽

The United Nations

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The Maguindanao Massacre

Politikon IAPSS Journal of Political Science ◽

10.22151/politikon.19.6 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 55-68

Author(s):

France Jeanne L Sarmiento

Keyword(s):

United Nations ◽

Human Development ◽

Human Security ◽

The Philippines ◽

Development Programme ◽

United Nations Development Programme ◽

Human Development Report ◽

Future Developments ◽

The United Nations ◽

Nations Development

No previous outbreak of election-related violence in the Philippines could compare to the events that took place in the province of Maguindanao on 23 November 2009, resulting in the death of fiftyseven (57) people. This paper assesses the tragic events dubbed as the “Maguindanao Massacre” by the Philippine press in terms of its repercussions on human security in Maguindanao province, using the seven categories of human security as defined under the 1994 Human Development Report of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Future developments to this on-going saga need to be closely monitored and analyzed as part of the citizenry's responsibility to be vigilant, to ensure that any further threats to human security in the Philippines could be promptly addressed.

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