{"id":846,"date":"2017-02-18T16:24:42","date_gmt":"2017-02-18T16:24:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dev.un.org\/humansecurity\/?page_id=846"},"modified":"2021-06-14T17:36:58","modified_gmt":"2021-06-14T17:36:58","slug":"whats-new-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.un.org\/humansecurity\/whats-new-2\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s New"},"content":{"rendered":"
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June 4 2026: Human Security as Principled Pragmatism<\/h2>\n

The global security environment is undergoing a profound shift. Today’s threats are increasingly interconnected, cross-border, and societal in nature: climate shocks that fuel displacement and instability, economic insecurity that deepens political fragility, disinformation that erodes social cohesion, and conflicts that spill across borders and institutions alike. These risks cannot be managed through deterrence or force alone.<\/p>\n

In this context, the question is no longer \u201cvalues or security.\u201d The real challenge is whether values can be operationalized in ways that make security more effective, credible, and sustainable. This is where the human security approach matters.<\/p>\n

Human security is often misunderstood as a normative or aspirational framework. In practice, it is a form of principled pragmatism: an approach grounded in the recognition that security policies are more effective when they are legitimate, preventive, and responsive to how people actually experience risk.<\/p>\n

Built around five operational principles \u2014 people-centred, comprehensive, context-specific, prevention-oriented, and grounded in protection and empowerment \u2014 the human security approach is particularly relevant to the transnational and hybrid threats increasingly shaping today\u2019s security landscape.<\/p>\n

First, prevention is both more effective and more cost-efficient than crisis response. By focusing attention on current, emerging, and future risks at the local and national level, the human security approach supports early warning, anticipatory action, and resilience-building strategies that reduce the likelihood of crises before they escalate.<\/p>\n

In Iraq, where intensified droughts, soil degradation, and population growth were placing growing pressure on natural resources and contributing to displacement, a UNTFHS programme implemented by IOM and WFP conducted human security risk assessments, developed localized action plans, and established community-based mediation mechanisms. By addressing pressures before tensions deepened, the programme helped reduce displacement risks while strengthening social cohesion.<\/p>\n

Second, legitimacy is not a soft principle; it is a strategic asset. Participation, transparency, accountability, and respect for dignity help preserve trust between institutions and communities, a critical factor in effective governance and crisis management. Policies perceived as fair and inclusive are more likely to secure public cooperation and long-term stability. By contrast, security measures that undermine trust often generate resistance, polarization, and deeper fragility, ultimately weakening security itself.<\/p>\n

In Colombia, the Government has incorporated the human security approach into its defense and security policies, including through a dedicated chapter on human security and social justice in the National Development Plan 2022\u20132026. Through a UNTFHS programme implemented by UNDP and UNODC, technical tools and guidelines were developed to help local governments in Nari\u00f1o, Buenaventura, and Mocoa integrate human security principles into territorial development plans, strengthening citizen engagement, improving coordination across levels of government, and reinforcing the foundations of lasting peace.<\/p>\n

These examples reflect a broader lesson emerging across more than two decades of UNTFHS experience in over 110 countries that security is most durable when it strengthens the resilience, trust, and capacities of societies themselves. Human security does not replace state security. It strengthens it.<\/p>\n

At a time when many risks increasingly impact the fabric of societies as much as the borders of states, human security offers a practical framework for aligning national interests with collective resilience, reducing shared risks before they escalate, and building forms of security that are not only effective in the short term, but sustainable over time.<\/p>\n

Learn more about our programme in Iraq: Click here<\/a>. Learn more about our programme in Colombia: Click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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May 2026: HUMAN SECURITY NEWS UPDATE \u2013 INVESTING IN YOUTH FOR A MORE SECURE FUTURE<\/h2>\n

Young people are often described as the future. Yet they are already helping communities navigate some of the defining challenges of the 21st century, from climate change and digital insecurity to social fragmentation and economic uncertainty. With 1.2 billion people between the ages of 15 and 24, youth represent one of the world’s greatest sources of innovation, resilience, and leadership. Across regions and contexts, UNTFHS programmes are demonstrating how empowering young people can help build more resilient, inclusive, peaceful, and sustainable societies.<\/p>\n

In Jamaica, through the country’s first UN multi-agency human security programme, youth worked alongside local institutions and communities to identify priorities and develop responses to climate-related challenges, harnessing the creativity and leadership of Caribbean youth to generate locally owned solutions with the potential to be adapted and scaled across the region. In Uzbekistan, as reported cybercrime and related financial losses rose sharply in recent years, a UNTFHS programme strengthened national prevention and protection mechanisms while equipping young people with critical thinking and digital literacy skills, positioning them not as vulnerable users of technology, but as responsible digital citizens and partners in creating safer online communities.<\/p>\n

In C\u00f4te d’Ivoire’s Gb\u00eak\u00ea region, youth, persons with disabilities, local authorities, and community leaders came together through inclusive local mechanisms to identify sources of tension and develop shared solutions \u2014 strengthening trust between citizens and local institutions while providing a critical bridge from conflict to lasting peace. In Egypt’s Nile Delta, where economic insecurity and limited employment opportunities can contribute to irregular migration, a UNTFHS programme expanded entrepreneurship opportunities, aligned skills development with labour market needs, and increased access to financial services reaching more than 18,500 young people and supporting over 23,000 enterprises.<\/p>\n

Investing in youth means more than expanding opportunity. It strengthens society’s capacity to respond to complex and interconnected challenges and better connects decision-making with youth-driven and community-based solutions. These experiences underscore the importance of development approaches that place people \u2014 especially young people \u2014 at the centre of solutions.<\/p>\n

Read the full News Update here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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May 27: Youth in Viet Nam Shape New Approaches to Digital Security Through a Human Security Lens<\/h2>\n

Young people across Viet Nam are stepping into the spotlight as co\u2011creators of safer, more inclusive digital spaces through the UNTFHS\u2011supported programme \u201cSecuring the Digital Space for Vietnamese Youth.\u201d<\/em> As digital risks evolve rapidly, from AI\u2011generated content to technology\u2011facilitated harassment, youth are helping shape approaches that protect their online safety, as well as their well\u2011being, dignity, and ability to participate meaningfully in society.<\/p>\n

A hallmark of the programme is its youth\u2011led co\u2011design process. Hundreds of young people, including young women, ethnic minorities, and youth with disabilities, have contributed directly to the emerging Youth Digital Awareness Toolkit<\/em>. Through consultation workshops and pilot sessions across both urban and provincial settings, young participants have shaped content on online safety, mental health, and how to navigate challenging or unsafe digital environments. Their insights ensure the Toolkit reflects real experiences and strengthens young people\u2019s resilience.<\/p>\n

Momentum is also growing around evidence-driven policy dialogues. A first-of-its-kind national study on digital and health risks has sparked conversations among ministries, youth unions, universities, and local authorities about how digital transformation intersects with young people\u2019s lives. Building on this evidence, the programme has developed the initial modules of a Youth Digital Security Handbook, giving policymakers a practical way to apply a human security perspective that looks beyond technical fixes to broader risk factors.<\/p>\n

The initiative has helped bring diverse actors to the table, fostering new forms of cooperation between youth networks, education institutions, justice and security sectors, and social affairs authorities. This cross\u2011sectoral engagement is helping shift responses toward more coordinated, preventive strategies to addressing digital risks.<\/p>\n

As activities progress, the programme continues to demonstrate the value of placing young people at the center of digital security efforts. Their leadership is informing practical, anticipatory approaches grounded in the realities of daily online life, offering promising lessons for advancing human security in digital environments across the region.<\/p>\n

Learn more about our programme in Viet Nam here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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May 17-22: Advancing Housing and Human Security at the World Urban Forum (WUF13)<\/h2>\n

At the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Azerbaijan, the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS), in collaboration with UN\u2011Habitat and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), organized two partner\u2011led events to highlight the role of housing as a cornerstone of human security.<\/p>\n

Held on 19 and 20 May, the Voices from Cities<\/em> and One UN<\/em> sessions on Housing and Human Security brought together representatives from governments, cities, UN entities, and partners to explore how integrated, people\u2011centered approaches can address interconnected urban challenges, including inadequate housing, inequality, and community vulnerability.<\/p>\n

The events showcased diverse city\u2011level experiences from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, demonstrating how cities and municipalities are applying the Housing and Human Security for All<\/em> model to strengthen resilience, social cohesion, and inclusive urban development. Lessons from cities, such as Durban, Ciudad Ju\u00e1rez, Tripoli, Medellin, and Toronto, illustrated how linking housing with essential services, safety, livelihoods, and community participation can deliver more sustainable and equitable outcomes.<\/p>\n

Discussions also emphasized the importance of coordinated UN support through a One UN approach, highlighting how joint action can enhance coherence, scale impact, and support local governments in addressing complex urban risks.<\/p>\n

The events reaffirmed the value of the human security approach as a practical framework for advancing integrated urban solutions and accelerating progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda.<\/p>\n

For more information about the events, please visit: Voices from Cities<\/a> and One UN Event<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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7 May 2026: Human Security and the International Migration Review Forum<\/h2>\n

Today, an estimated 304 million people live outside their country of birth \u2014 some in search of better opportunities, others fleeing conflict or disasters. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration was built on the recognition that migration can be a positive and empowering experience, a source of prosperity for migrants as well as communities and countries of origin, transit and destination. As the second quadrennial International Migration Review Forum convened in New York from 5\u20138 May, the UNTFHS brought forward practical examples of how these commitments are being translated into policies and programmes on the ground.<\/p>\n

The human security approach focuses on reducing pressures at their source, strengthening the conditions that allow people to remain in their communities safely and with dignity, while supporting those who do move to do so under orderly and secure circumstances. In Madagascar, climate change, environmental degradation, and COVID-19 triggered a significant increase in internal migration, creating insecurity in both departure and destination communities. Through a UNTFHS programme implemented by IOM and UNDP, the human security approach addressed the interlinked drivers and impacts of unmanaged migration through integrated responses, strengthening stakeholder capacity, mobilizing partnerships across levels, and ensuring the inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities \u2014 reaching 163,700 people in the Androy and Menabe regions.<\/p>\n

In parts of southern Mexico, local communities are navigating complex and evolving pressures that affect safety, access to services, and social cohesion. In states such as Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Tabasco, these dynamics place strain on local systems and increase risks for vulnerable populations. A UNTFHS programme implemented by IOM, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, and UNODC strengthened local and national capacities to respond by training over 800 officials, supporting 33 shelters providing essential services, and contributing to Mexico’s Special Migration Programme, reinforcing a coordinated, people-centred response that enhances protection and stability for both vulnerable populations and host communities.<\/p>\n

In Morocco \u2014 a country of origin, destination, and transit \u2014 unaccompanied children and youth are among the most vulnerable, facing a range of interconnected challenges. A UNTFHS programme implemented by UNHCR, UNICEF, and IOM helped bolster national migration policies, built the capacity of diverse stakeholders to protect and empower children and youth, and supported more than 14,000 migrants, refugees, and vulnerable Moroccan households through education and training assistance.<\/p>\n

From Madagascar to Morocco, Mexico to the Pacific, Colombia to Senegal, the UNTFHS demonstrates how integrated, people-centred approaches can strengthen policy coherence and improve outcomes in complex contexts. The human security approach provides a practical foundation; supporting coordinated, context-specific, and prevention-oriented responses that address interconnected risks and reinforce resilience over time. As Member States agree on a Progress Declaration setting the direction for the next four years of Global Compact implementation, the UNTFHS remains committed to supporting the integration of human security into policy and programming in ways that are responsive, evidence-based, and grounded in national priorities.<\/p>\n

Learn more about our programme in Madagascar here<\/a>, our programme in Mexico here<\/a>, and our programme in Morocco here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Interested in a deeper dive? Read our Human Security and Migration brief here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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5 May 2026: A Tribute to the 45th Anniversary Edition of PRAXIS: The Fletcher Journal of Human Security<\/h2>\n

The 45th anniversary edition of PRAXIS: The Fletcher Journal of Human Security, titled “Bridging and Balancing: A Nexus of Development,” explores the intersection of international development and human security, asking how development policies and practices can be reimagined to protect and empower people, especially those whose voices are too often marginalized in decision-making processes.<\/p>\n

The UNTFHS is proud to contribute to this conversation. In this anniversary edition, Ms. Mehrnaz Mostafavi, Chief of the United Nations Human Security Unit outlines how the human security approach offers a practical framework for reorienting development around people\u2019s lived realities, enabling integrated, risk-informed, and preventive action that strengthens resilience and supports sustainable peace and shared prosperity.<\/p>\n

In today\u2019s world, conflict, climate stress, food insecurity, health crises, and displacement are rarely singular in nature. They arise from the interaction of political, social, economic, environmental, and institutional stresses that accumulate, coalesce, and cascade over time. Within this context, traditional development practice must shift. Linear approaches and sector-by-sector responses are increasingly ill-suited to today’s interconnected challenges. Development is no longer a technical undertaking but it is closely entangled with anticipatory action, institutional capacity, and the ability to mobilize effective multi-stakeholder partnerships in an uncertain geopolitical environment. It is a quest for trust.<\/p>\n

By connecting local realities with national, regional, and global dynamics, human security offers a principled and pragmatic framework capable of managing complexity, strengthening resilience, rebuilding trust, and sustaining progress in international development. At a time of unprecedented change, human security serves as the bridge to strengthen international development and build a resilient future for all.<\/p>\n

Read Ms. Mostafavi\u2019s article here<\/a> and the full edition here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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29 APRIL 2026: News Update April: A Fund for Our Times and Tomorrow\u2019s Challenges<\/h2>\n

In this latest News Update, we share how the UNTFHS is evolving to meet the demands of a time of profound uncertainty. As a strategic financing platform designed to deliver results when multilateral commitments are under strain, the Fund ensures that every dollar of development finance works harder to address multilayered risks. By bridging fragmented silos and anchoring action in national ownership, we move beyond reactive measures to strengthen the systems required for long-term resilience.<\/p>\n

The UNTFHS also serves as a vital tool for coherence, empowering UN Country Teams to align investments across development, peace and social cohesion. By fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships and leveraging human security data, we enable more precise responses that reduce the likelihood of costly interventions later on, ensuring that development is both proactive and sustainable.<\/p>\n

The impact of this approach is most visible when local solutions take hold\u2014informing national policies, shaping programmes, and delivering lasting improvements in people\u2019s lives. Examples from across regions show that the Fund is an evidence-based mechanism capable of driving measurable change, even in complex and fragile contexts.<\/p>\n

We invite you to explore how our hybrid financing model acts as a catalyst for innovation and scale. To date, strategic multilateral contributions have leveraged an additional $116 million for human security initiatives globally, offering donors increased value for money while reducing fragmentation. We encourage you to engage with this strategic platform as we continue to work across silos and invest with the foresight and coherence required to navigate today\u2019s\u2014and tomorrow\u2019s\u2014most pressing challenges.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49Read the full News Update here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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24 APRIL 2026: Financing for Development and the Human Security Approach<\/h2>\n

The 2026 ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development (FfD Forum), held from 20\u201324 April, convened to mobilize momentum and concrete solutions in the follow-up to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. With the world falling behind on achieving the SDGs by 2030, constrained by a financing gap of around $4 trillion annually, what matters is not only the scale of financing, but how effectively it is used.<\/p>\n

Across its programmes, the UNTFHS points to what more effective, integrated financing can achieve for the world’s most vulnerable.<\/p>\n

In north-central Liberia, where women and youth in Nimba, Bong, and Lofa counties face entrenched poverty, high unemployment, hunger, and rising gender-based violence, a UNTFHS-supported programme implemented with FAO, ILO, UNDP, UN Women, and WFP is harnessing ICT and digital technology to build resilient food and social protection systems, strengthen food systems planning, build cooperatives, and diversify livelihoods. By aligning investments across sectors and actors, the programme reaches 1.3 million people, offering a practical model for how integrated approaches to financing can be applied and scaled to accelerate progress towards the SDGs.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, in Uzbekistan’s Aral Sea region, the UNTFHS demonstrates that effective financing must also build the institutional architecture through which lasting change becomes possible. The drying of the Aral Sea has created cascading challenges for communities in Karakalpakstan \u2014 from income poverty and food insecurity to deteriorating health and land degradation. Building on successive programmes, the UNTFHS helped establish the Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region (MPHSTF), bringing together EU, Finland, Norway, the Republic of Korea, and Uzbekistan around a shared human security framework. Over six years, the MPHSTF has improved the lives of around 300,000 people through coordinated, people-centred interventions.<\/p>\n

Together, these experiences reflect the added value of the human security approach, not just as a programming framework, but as a financing catalyst that reduces fragmentation, multiplies impact, and builds the conditions for durable and scalable change.<\/p>\n

Learn more about our programme in Liberia here<\/a>, and our programme in Uzbekistan here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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17 APRIL 2026: Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Forum on Sustainable Development<\/h2>\n

The 2026 Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (RFSD), convened by the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), will bring together governments, regional organizations, civil society, and development partners to assess progress toward the 2030 Agenda and exchange policy solutions aligned with regional priorities. As part of the preparatory process for the 2026 UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the Forum will include in-depth reviews of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), and SDG 17 (partnerships for the Goals).<\/p>\n

Across the Caribbean region, these discussions are particularly relevant as communities face growing risks linked to natural hazards such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, and volcanic activity. Combined with socio-economic pressures and global shocks, these hazards can disrupt lives and livelihoods and influence patterns of human mobility, including disaster displacement and environmental migration.<\/p>\n

A UNTFHS-supported programme in the Caribbean region demonstrates how the human security approach can help address these challenges in an integrated way. The initiative promotes protection for disaster-displaced persons, environmental migrants, and vulnerable communities, while strengthening disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation systems across twelve Caribbean countries and territories.<\/p>\n

Working with regional organizations, national governments, civil society, and UN agencies, the programme supports the integration of human security considerations into disaster risk management and climate strategies. In partnership with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the initiative helps incorporate Human Security and human mobility into Comprehensive Disaster Management frameworks and national disaster plans.<\/p>\n

Through linking climate resilience, human mobility, and disaster preparedness through a human security lens, the programme supports more preventive, people-centered solutions that help communities live with greater safety, dignity, and opportunity.<\/p>\n

Learn more about how the human security approach is supporting resilience and disaster risk management in the Caribbean region\ud83d\udc49Click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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16 APRIL 2026: Youth Leadership and Human Security: Reflections from the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026<\/h2>\n

From 14\u201316 April 2026, young leaders from around the world gathered at United Nations Headquarters in New York for the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026, a key platform where youth, Member States, and partners came together to discuss solutions for advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Forum underscored the essential role of young people in shaping inclusive and sustainable societies, ensuring that their perspectives help guide global policy dialogue and action.<\/p>\n

By placing people at the centre of analysis and action, human security recognizes young people not only as beneficiaries of development policies, but as agents of change who contribute to identifying risks, strengthening resilience, and advancing sustainable solutions within their communities. Supporting youth participation in decision-making \u2014 while recognizing the multidimensional challenges they face, from economic insecurity to barriers in education \u2014 remains essential for building societies that leave no one behind.<\/p>\n

Across programmes supported by the UNTFHS, young people have increasingly been engaged as partners in shaping responses to these complex challenges. In Mexico, a UNTFHS-supported initiative brought together government institutions, civil society, academia, and the private sector to better understand and respond to the challenges faced by at-risk youth in the State of Hidalgo. By promoting multi-stakeholder dialogue and strengthening platforms for youth participation in policy processes, the programme helped ensure that young people\u2019s experiences and perspectives informed development planning.<\/p>\n

Similarly, in Senegal, a UNTFHS-supported programme, focused on inclusive local development in the commune of Fass-Dakar, recognized that young people, particularly young women, faced interconnected vulnerabilities linked to unemployment, limited access to education and training, and barriers to economic participation. By promoting integrated responses that combined skills development, support for entrepreneurship, improved access to health and social services, and strengthened local governance, the programme helped address the root causes of insecurity. Through participatory, community-driven approaches and the active engagement of multiple stakeholders, it expanded opportunities for youth, reduced inequalities, and strengthened more resilient and inclusive communities.<\/p>\n

As discussions concluded at the ECOSOC Youth Forum 2026, these experiences reaffirm the value of empowering youth \u2014 not only to voice their concerns, but to actively shape solutions. A human security approach turns youth participation into tangible outcomes, strengthening resilience, fostering inclusive governance, and ensuring that young people remain central to advancing sustainable development.<\/p>\n

Learn more about our programme in Mexico here<\/a>, and in Senegal here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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10 APRIL 2026: UNTFHS Policy Brief: A Fund for our Times and Tomorrow\u2019s Challenges<\/h2>\n

As the international system undergoes a period of profound transformation, risks such as climate disruption, health shocks, food insecurity, technological change, and governance pressures are no longer isolated threats. These challenges are interconnected and increasingly interdependent, frequently triggering instability within and across borders. Traditional, sector-by-sector policy tools are struggling to keep pace with this reality, leading governments to seek integrated, preventive, and scalable approaches that can reduce risks before they escalate into full-scale crises.<\/p>\n

To address this urgent need, the Human Security Unit has released its latest Policy Brief, “A Fund for our Times and Tomorrow\u2019s Challenges.”<\/strong> The Brief highlights the role of the UNTFHS as the UN\u2019s principal mechanism for translating the human security approach into operational impact.<\/p>\n

With a global reach spanning 325 programmes in over 110 countries, the Fund provides a practical framework for prioritization and coordination. By focusing on conditions that underpin long-term stability – such as effective governance and trust – the UNTFHS enables UN Country Teams and partners to move from reactive crisis management toward a model of proactive investment.<\/p>\n

The Brief further details the Fund’s unique hybrid financing model, which has successfully leveraged an additional $116 million for human security initiatives. This approach reduces fragmentation, multiplies impact by combining targeted seed funding with pooled resources and promotes replication and scale-up for much broader reach and sustainability.<\/p>\n

As we navigate an era of uncertainty and rapid change, this publication serves as an invitation to partners to engage with the UNTFHS as a strategic platform for investment. By working across silos and testing solutions in real-world settings, the Fund ensures that innovation is translated into durable solutions that strengthen institutions and enhance resilience for the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n

Access the full Policy Brief and learn more about our operational impact\ud83d\udc49<\/strong>Click here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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10 APRIL 2026: Supporting Safe, Dignified Return and Recovery through a Human Security Approach in Syria<\/h2>\n

In Syria, years of conflict, displacement, and institutional disruption have created deeply layered insecurities across the country. As people return to their neighbourhoods amid political transition and continued instability, they face challenges that require integrated, people-centred solutions to address both immediate needs and the foundations for long-term recovery.<\/p>\n

In Bab al-Nairab, a densely populated district of Aleppo, the UNTFHS supported the programme Implementing Area-Based Return Support as a Catalytic Process for Resilient Recovery, Human Security, and Durable Solutions in Syria<\/em>, jointly implemented by UNDP and UNHCR. Guided by the human security approach, the initiative applied an area-based model that brings together protection, legal security, participatory governance, basic services, livelihoods, and social cohesion into a coherent response to displacement and return.<\/p>\n

The programme\u2019s focus is on the recognition that safe and sustainable return goes beyond arrival. It requires active efforts to restore rights, trust, and opportunities for all. Through embedded legal and protection assistance delivered via community centres, mobile outreach, and digital modalities, nearly 4,000 individuals received structured legal support to resolve civil documentation gaps and housing, land, and property issues. These services helped reduce risks of exclusion, secondary displacement and ensured that everyone had access to the legal services they deserved. This initiative was especially relevant in empowering women and girls who, through stigmatization and fear, did not seek help in situations of sexual harassment or abuse.<\/p>\n

Equally central to the human security approach was the programme\u2019s emphasis on participatory local governance. Returnees, internally displaced persons, and host community members – women, men, youth, and persons with disabilities – were engaged as active agents in shaping recovery priorities. Through inclusive community platforms, residents co-designed a Community Recovery Plan and implemented community-led Quick Impact Projects, reinforcing local ownership, accountability, and trust between communities and institutions.<\/p>\n

These participatory processes translated into tangible improvements in living conditions. The rehabilitation of approximately one kilometre of sewage infrastructure improved sanitation and public health for an estimated 11,000 residents, while labour-intensive works generated short-term employment and strengthened community stewardship of shared assets. In parallel, the rehabilitation of a vocational training school restored a critical skills hub, expanding education and employability pathways for youth in a context of high unemployment and social vulnerability.<\/p>\n

Together, these integrated actions demonstrate the added value of the human security approach in a highly fragile and transitional context. By addressing legal, economic, institutional, environmental, and social insecurities simultaneously, the programme helped stabilize return-affected communities while laying the groundwork for durable solutions. Importantly, the Area-Based Return Support (ABRS) model piloted in Aleppo has since been adopted by the UN Country Team as a scalable framework for localized solutions across Syria, positioning human security as a practical pathway from emergency response toward sustainable recovery.<\/p>\n

In a context where transition, change, and unpredictability dominate the political landscape, this initiative illustrates how human security-driven, capacity-building approaches can transform return and recovery into community-led processes that withstand uncertainty. Importantly, by putting people and especially those most vulnerable at the center, the programme helps ensure an inclusive community well into the future.<\/p>\n

Learn more about how the human security approach is supporting recovery and durable solutions in Syria\ud83d\udc49Click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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31 MARCH 2026: The Climate-Migration-Security Nexus<\/h2>\n

Climate change is transforming environments and reshaping the conditions that enable people and communities to sustain their livelihoods and futures. Across regions, combined pressures due to rising temperatures, droughts, and extreme weather are eroding people\u2019s ability to cope, as well as weakening institutional capacity to respond. Addressing this reality requires moving beyond siloed responses and examining how climate risks shape mobility, livelihoods, health, and social stability simultaneously.<\/p>\n

By grounding analysis in local and national contexts, the human security framework allows for the identification of the underlying drivers of vulnerability and the tipping points that influence whether people remain where they are or are compelled to move. In doing so, UNTFHS programmes drive more targeted, context-specific interventions, strengthening local capacities, supporting community-led solutions, and enabling safer, more informed mobility when necessary.<\/p>\n

From establishing multisectoral health and migration teams in Central America and Mexico, to the elaboration of the Pacific Regional Framework for Climate Mobility, to advancing culturally adapted solutions for nomadic populations in Kenya, the stories in this edition demonstrate how the human security approach addresses the climate-migration-security nexus by moving from reactive crisis response toward building long-term community resilience.<\/p>\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\"\u00a0Read the full News Update\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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26 MARCH 2026: Strengthening Social Protection through Human Security Data in Jordan<\/h2>\n

Jordan continues to face complex and interrelated economic pressures, including high unemployment, low wages, and persistent poverty\u2014challenges compounded by regional instability and a significant refugee presence. At the same time, water scarcity and the impacts of climate change are placing additional strain on food systems and socio-ecological stability. While the country has made important investments in poverty reduction and climate adaptation, gaps in disaggregated data have limited the ability to effectively target resources to reach those most in need.<\/p>\n

To help address this challenge, the UNTFHS supported a programme titled Data Expansion for Human Security: Establishing an Evidence Base for Programmes, Policies, and Strategies for Resilience and Protection<\/em>. Implemented by UNDP and WFP in partnership with Jordan\u2019s National Aid Fund (NAF), the initiative focused on strengthening human security data collection and analysis to better inform social protection planning and policy development.<\/p>\n

Grounded in the human security approach, the programme assessed a wide range of interconnected risks, including economic, environmental, food, health, and social dimensions, to ensure that national strategies are both evidence-based and responsive to local realities. By mapping household vulnerabilities and capturing the lived experiences of communities, it helped build a stronger, more nuanced evidence base to guide targeted social protection responses.<\/p>\n

The initiative also placed strong emphasis on partnership and coordination, bringing together government institutions, civil society, international organizations, and local communities. In particular, strengthening the capacity of the NAF\u2014Jordan\u2019s primary provider of social assistance\u2014has been key to ensuring that policies and programmes are informed by reliable data and are responsive to the needs of vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n

Through this participatory and data-driven approach, the programme has supported more targeted interventions that address the root causes of vulnerability, while also contributing to longer-term resilience and more inclusive development pathways.<\/p>\n

Learn more about how the human security approach supported evidence-based social protection in Jordan<\/a>, and watch the video<\/a> to see how improved data systems and partnerships guided targeted responses for vulnerable communities.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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19 MARCH 2026: Human Security and the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women<\/h2>\n

As the international community concludes the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), attention turns to both the progress made and the work that remains in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. This year\u2019s priority theme\u2014ensuring access to justice for all women and girls\u2014spotlighted the urgent need for inclusive and equitable legal systems, the elimination of discriminatory laws and practices, and the removal of structural barriers that prevent women from fully realizing their rights.<\/p>\n

What emerged clearly from CSW70 is that barriers to justice are rarely legal in isolation. They are shaped by overlapping constraints\u2014economic insecurity, social norms, gaps in protection systems, and limited institutional trust\u2014that together determine whether women and girls can realizes their aspirations. The human security approach is particularly well-suited to this challenge because it starts from these lived realities and focuses on how risks intersect and reinforce one another. In doing so, it shifts the focus from access in principle to access in practice.<\/p>\n

In this context, the statement delivered by Costa Rica on behalf of the Group of Friends of Human Security highlighted both the persistence of structural and intersecting barriers to justice and the limitations of fragmented responses. Women and girls continue to navigate overlapping legal systems and entrenched forms of discrimination that undermine their ability to claim their rights. The Group reaffirmed the importance of the human security approach, reflecting a growing recognition that advancing access to justice requires more integrated, context-sensitive solutions, grounded in national ownership and the commitment to leave no one behind.<\/p>\n

This integrated approach is reflected across UNTFHS-supported programmes, where advancing gender equality is not treated as a standalone objective but as integral to reducing vulnerability and strengthening resilience. Across contexts, initiatives have shown that improving women\u2019s access to justice requires simultaneous investments in legal awareness, economic empowerment, community engagement, and institutional capacity. By addressing these dimensions together, programmes are better able to reduce exposure to violence and exploitation, strengthen legal protections, and enable women and girls to participate more fully as agents of change.<\/p>\n

As CSW70 concludes, the insights and experiences shared throughout the session will continue to shape policy and practice. Ensuring that the voices of women and girls are meaningfully reflected in development frameworks is both a matter of inclusion and effectiveness.<\/p>\n

To hear the statement by the Permanent Representative of Costa Rica, watch here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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17 MARCH 2026: Nordic Dialogues on Human Security Continue in Oslo<\/h2>\n

The Nordic Dialogues on Human Security continued in Oslo, bringing together policymakers, practitioners, and researchers to explore how a human-centred approach can strengthen security in an era of growing geopolitical pressure. Across the Nordic region, security thinking is being reshaped by overlapping global challenges \u2014 from armed conflict and climate stress to democratic backsliding and intensifying geopolitical competition \u2014 making this a timely moment to reflect on how policy responses are evolving.<\/p>\n

As a long-standing actor in peacebuilding, mediation, and multilateral cooperation, Norway brings a distinct perspective to these discussions. The dialogue underscored that human security has long been embedded in Nordic engagement, grounded in the protection of people, strong institutions, and inclusive societies. At the same time, participants emphasized the need for greater clarity around core concepts such as resilience, social cohesion, trust, and total defence. While widely used, these terms are often left insufficiently defined, risking a narrowing of security thinking at a moment when broader, more integrated approaches are urgently needed.<\/p>\n

A recurring concern was the fragility of societal trust in the face of disinformation and polarization. Participants noted that economic, social, and psychological insecurities can create openings for manipulation, reinforcing the importance of ensuring that people feel protected, included, and heard. In this context, human security was seen as central to strengthening societal resilience. The dialogue also highlighted the value of respectful disagreement and sustained engagement across sectors, generations, and institutions as essential to maintaining both social cohesion and democratic legitimacy in increasingly fragmented societies.<\/p>\n

While defence and deterrence have taken on renewed urgency across Europe, participants stressed that planning for war must be matched by sustained investment in the conditions for peace. Human security offers a framework for balancing these imperatives, helping policymakers address immediate threats while also reinforcing the long-term foundations of stability. This is particularly important as concerns grow over the erosion of the multilateral system and the rules-based international order. The discussion also highlighted the growing role of middle powers in sustaining international cooperation and advancing values-based leadership in a more contested global landscape.<\/p>\n

Discussions also pointed to the accelerating role of technology in reshaping both warfare and societal vulnerability. Advances in artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities, and other emerging domains are increasingly blurring the boundaries between peace and conflict, underscoring the need for whole-of-society approaches grounded in public trust and institutional coordination.<\/p>\n

The ongoing war in Ukraine featured in policy discussions as a stark illustration of the human security framework in practice. Participants reflected on how the conflict has generated interconnected risks across civilian safety, energy systems, livelihoods, and social cohesion, demonstrating the need for responses that move beyond emergency assistance to a more integrated, forward-looking strategy.<\/p>\n

The Oslo dialogue reaffirmed that human security is not a legacy of a more stable era, but an increasingly indispensable lens for navigating today\u2019s complex and compounding risks.<\/p>\n

\"\ud83d\udc49\" Read more about the dialogue series here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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9 MARCH 2026: Call for Submissions: 2026 Human Security Award<\/h2>\n

As global challenges grow more complex and interconnected, the need for approaches that address the full spectrum of risks facing people has become increasingly clear. Human security is not simply another way of addressing development, humanitarian, or peace challenges. Rather, it is a distinct approach that addresses the interconnected and multidimensional nature of risks facing people through integrated, human-centred, anticipatory and context-specific solutions that cut across traditional sectoral boundaries, including the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To highlight how this approach is being translated into practice, the Group of Friends of Human Security has launched the 2026 Human Security Award. The Award will recognize\u00a0programmes\u00a0implemented by UN agencies, funds, and\u00a0programmes\u00a0that have demonstrated, in concrete and verifiable terms, how operationalizing the human security approach delivers meaningful results on the ground and why it is essential in today\u2019s complex contexts.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Eligible\u00a0programmes\u00a0will embody the defining characteristics and principles of human security: working across sectors and risks simultaneously; focusing on the voices and agency of affected communities; and combining top-down protection with bottom-up empowerment responses. By operationalizing the human security approach and bringing together multiple actors across the UN system and beyond, these\u00a0programmes\u00a0will demonstrate how integrated responses can address interconnected and mutually reinforcing challenges in ways that siloed approaches cannot.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Submissions for the 2026 Human Security Award are open until\u00a0<\/span>12 April 2026 at 17:00 EST<\/span><\/b>, with selected\u00a0programmes\u00a0to be recognized at a dedicated ceremony in New York in late June or early July 2026.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49<\/span>\u00a0Access the application guidance and submission form here<\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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4 MARCH 2026: Helsinki Dialogue: Nordic Perspectives on Human-Centred Security<\/h2>\n

On 3-4 March, the Nordic Dialogues on Human Security convened policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in Helsinki, Finland. Organized by the UNTFHS, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), the discussions explored how human-centred approaches can strengthen long-term security alongside defense in an increasingly complex global environment.<\/p>\n

Across the dialogues in Helsinki\u2014and earlier in Stockholm\u2014it became clear that human security remains deeply rooted in Nordic thinking. In Finland in particular, participants expressed strong interest in revisiting the concept in light of today\u2019s changing security landscape and exploring how it connects with Finland\u2019s comprehensive security model. With growing concerns in many societies about shrinking civic space and increasingly polarized public discourse, creating space for thoughtful dialogue is more important than ever.<\/p>\n

The discussions also highlighted how Finland\u2019s resilience reflects decades of investment in people\u2014through inclusive governance, education, and social protection. When Finland faces pressure, society tends not to fracture but to adapt collectively, with institutions and communities working together to find solutions. This capacity for collaboration and trust in times of uncertainty reflects human security in practice and mirrors a broader Nordic tradition of strengthening resilience through long-term investment in social cohesion.<\/p>\n

One of the clearest conclusions from the dialogues was that human security should advance alongside hard security, not in opposition to it. Strong defense and resilient societies reinforce one another. Yet while there is broad agreement on the importance of the approach, the practical pathways for applying it remain less defined. The Nordic Dialogues aim to help bridge that gap, moving from shared principles to identifying concrete ways that human security can inform Finland\u2019s policies, deepen Nordic cooperation, and shape credible international engagement in an increasingly uncertain world.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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27 FEBRUARY 2026: The World Is Catching Up with Human Security<\/h2>\n

Something is shifting in how the world thinks about security. Across diplomatic forums, development finance, and technology governance, a quiet consensus is forming that durable stability cannot be built on transactional partnerships or crisis management alone. It requires the foundations of trust, cohesion, and dignity that allow societies to thrive.<\/p>\n

Four recent moments show where this insight is taking root. A new Human Security Dialogue Series, launched by SIPRI and UNTFHS, is convening leaders across Stockholm, Helsinki, and Oslo to build shared frameworks at a moment when top-down multilateral consensus is increasingly elusive. At the Munich Security Conference, world leaders acknowledged that stronger societies<\/em> \u2014 not just stronger alliances \u2014 are what lasting stability demands. In international development, as major donors pivot toward investment-led models, the human security lens helps anchor investment in the conditions that allow people to build livelihoods and live in dignity. And, in AI governance, the question has evolved from whether systems are safe to whether societies can maintain the trust and agency that development depends on.<\/p>\n

Across all four stories, the thread is the same: the world is slowly, unevenly, but unmistakably catching up with human security.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc49 Read the full News Update here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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19 February 2026: Regional Knowledge Sharing Workshop Advances Human Security and Resilience in Asia Pacific<\/h2>\n

Government representatives, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners from across the Asia\u2011Pacific region participated in a two\u2011day Regional Knowledge\u2011Sharing Workshop on Mainstreaming Human Security and Resilience Building in Bangkok, organized under the regional UNTFHS programme piloted in Nepal and Bangladesh.<\/p>\n

As countries in the region face an escalating convergence of climate shocks, socio\u2011economic fragility, and emerging polycrisis, participants explored how the human security approach can serve as a unifying framework to strengthen resilience and enhance risk\u2011informed development planning.<\/p>\n

The workshop provided an opportunity to present and discuss the Human Security Poly\u2011Risk Methodology (HSPR) developed under this programme. Pilot experiences from Bangladesh and Nepal, alongside contributions from different countries in the region, illustrated how integrated human security analysis can support cross\u2011sectoral collaboration and more inclusive planning processes. The workshop also identified entry points to strengthen regional cooperation and outlined next steps for finalizing and rolling out the HSPR framework across the region.<\/p>\n

The finalized HSPR methodology will be used as a resource for governments and development partners seeking to operationalize human security in complex and interconnected risk environments.<\/p>\n

Learn more about the programme here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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12 February 2026: Digital Innovation Bringing Health and Social Protection Closer to Communities in Mali<\/h2>\n

Addressing complex and interconnected insecurities requires integrated solutions. In Mali, years of insecurity, climate stress, and limited infrastructure have compounded barriers to healthcare and social protection, particularly for rural and vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n

To respond, the UNTFHS is supporting the programme Digital Innovation for Sustainable Healthcare and Social Protection in Mali<\/em>, implemented by UNDP and WHO in partnership with national institutions. Guided by the human security approach, the programme integrates health, economic, environmental, and social protection measures to strengthen resilience and reduce vulnerabilities across Koulikoro, Sikasso, and S\u00e9gou.<\/p>\n

At the programme\u2019s core is the recognition that access to healthcare cannot be separated from broader conditions of security and well-being. It first equipped three referral health centres and six community health centres with solar energy systems and digital health tools. The initiative has expanded access to telemedicine in areas affected by insecurity and limited connectivity, bringing quality care closer to communities.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, the programme\u2019s added value extends beyond health services alone. It addresses the economic and social conditions that shape people\u2019s ability to access care and cope with shocks. Through targeted support to women and youth, 165 individuals have received equipment and training in market gardening and agri-food processing, strengthening livelihoods, food security, and household resilience. These income-generating activities help reduce financial barriers to healthcare while enhancing long-term self-reliance.<\/p>\n

In parallel, the programme supports inclusion in national social protection systems by working with authorities to expand access to medical assistance schemes for the most vulnerable. By linking digital health services with social safety nets, the initiative helps ensure that people are not only treated when illness occurs, but are better protected against future health and economic shocks.<\/p>\n

Together, these protection and empowerment measures reflect the essence of the human security approach: addressing multiple, interconnected risks through integrated, people-centred solutions. By combining digital innovation, renewable energy, livelihoods support, and institutional strengthening, the programme contributes to more equitable access to essential services and stronger community resilience. As such, it offers a model for anticipatory, inclusive, comprehensive strategies that ensure progress reaches those most at risk.<\/p>\n

Learn more about the programme and how human security is strengthening resilience in Mali<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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5 February 2026: Nordic Dialogues on Human Security Launched in Stockholm<\/h2>\n

The United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS), in collaboration with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), launched the inaugural Nordic Dialogues on Human Security through a three\u2011part event series in Stockholm. The series convened government representatives, researchers, UN officials, and civil society partners to explore how human\u2011centred approaches can strengthen resilience amid a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.<\/p>\n

Public Dialogue: Perspectives from Sweden on Human\u2011Centred Security
\n<\/strong>The main public event, \u201cAdvancing Human\u2011centred Security in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape: Perspectives from Sweden,\u201d brought together a diverse panel of experts to reflect on the practical relevance of human security in addressing interconnected global challenges, from geopolitical tensions and climate\u2011related risks to social inequalities and digital vulnerabilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cHuman security is not an abstract idea; it is a practical framework and tool for understanding and addressing the conditions that make societies vulnerable to instability,\u201d<\/strong> said Ambassador Knut Vollebaek, Chair of the UN Advisory Board on Human Security, in his opening remarks.<\/p>\n

Speakers highlighted the Nordic region\u2019s long\u2011standing contributions to peace, human rights, gender equality, and inclusive development, noting how these traditions can help inform human\u2011centred approaches in today\u2019s context. They also emphasized that despite rising security spending globally, people increasingly do not feel more secure. Speakers underscored human security as both a strategic necessity and a practical framework for addressing root causes more clearly and enabling bottom\u2011up, community\u2011driven resilience. The discussion further noted that human security is integral to building peace, rebuilding societies, and fostering the kinds of partnerships and people\u2011oriented systems long associated with Nordic models.<\/p>\n

High\u2011Level Dinner: Partnering for Human\u2011Centred Approaches
\n<\/strong>A high\u2011level dinner brought together leaders from government, the diplomatic community, research institutions, and the UN system for a strategic conversation on elevating human\u2011centred security in policy discussions. The exchange helped build momentum and reinforce partnerships as the Nordic Dialogues initiative begins.<\/p>\n

Policy Roundtable: Applying Human Security in Practice
\n<\/strong>In addition, a focused policy roundtable gathered senior experts, diplomats, and practitioners for an exchange on how human security can be operationalized across national, regional, and multilateral policy spaces and programmatic solutions. Participants discussed opportunities to integrate human\u2011centred analysis into preventive action, resilience\u2011building, and development planning.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead
\n<\/strong>As the first in the series of Nordic Dialogues on Human Security, the Stockholm events set a strong foundation for deeper regional engagement. The dialogue series will continue with events in Helsinki and Oslo in March, further advancing collaboration and shared learning on human\u2011centred approaches to peace, prevention, and sustainable development. These will be followed by broader conversations in Europe and beyond to explore the importance of human security at this pivotal moment for multilateralism, global stability, and progress.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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29 January 2026: Empowering Youth to Build Safer Digital Spaces in Uzbekistan<\/h2>\n

Digital technologies increasingly shape how people communicate, learn, and engage with the world. For young people in particular, the digital space is not just part of daily life, it is the primary environment in which they build relationships, express themselves, and imagine their futures. Yet cybercrime and digital violence are often seen as distant or abstract, rather than as real risks that directly affect personal safety, dignity, and well-being.<\/p>\n

In Uzbekistan, a joint programme supported by the UNTFHS and implemented by UNODC and UNDP is addressing these emerging risks through the human security approach. Strengthening Resilience of Youth to Cybercrime and Digital Violence<\/em> responds to the multidimensional impacts of digital threats by placing people at the centre of prevention and response. By equipping individuals and communities to understand and manage the risks associated with technological change, the programme shifts young people from potential victims to active agents of change, empowering them with the knowledge and skills to help shape safer digital spaces.<\/p>\n

For Sabina, one of the programme\u2019s youth participants, the experience was transformative. \u201cBefore this, I didn\u2019t know what to do if I saw digital violence happening to a friend,\u201d she shared. \u201cNow, I have the tools and confidence to speak up. We aren\u2019t just waiting for the future; we are helping to make the internet safer today.\u201d<\/p>\n

This people-centred approach extends from youth engagement to institutional change. Through initiatives such as a Model United Nations simulation on digital resilience involving more than 70 secondary-school students, alongside research, capacity-building, and community engagement, the programme strengthens coordination among government institutions, civil society, and youth organisations. An Inter-Agency Working Group has also been established, laying the groundwork for a Youth Cybercrime Prevention Centre as a permanent national resource.<\/p>\n

Complementing these efforts, the \u201cDigital Bridge\u201d initiative promotes digital inclusion by training young volunteers to support elderly and marginalized groups in accessing essential digital services. By encouraging safe, ethical, and inclusive use of technology, the programme helps ensure that digital transformation expands opportunity rather than deepening inequality.<\/p>\n

Together, these actions show how human security enables integrated, preventive responses to digital threats. By empowering youth, strengthening institutions, and fostering inclusive digital ecosystems, the programme supports safer online environments and more resilient communities as Uzbekistan continues its digital transformation.<\/p>\n

Read more about the vital role of human security in strengthening resilience to digital threats and emerging risks here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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24 January 2025: International Day of Education<\/h2>\n

Every year on 24 January, the United Nations marks the International Day of Education, celebrating the transformative power of learning and reaffirming the global commitment to inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all. This year\u2019s theme \u2014 the power of youth in co-creating education<\/em> \u2014 underscores that education systems work best when young people are active partners in shaping them.<\/p>\n

Youth make up more than half of the global population and are a powerful force for innovation and social change. Yet many continue to face persistent barriers, from poverty and inequality to conflict and limited access to quality education and decent work. As technology reshapes how people learn and work, involving young people in reimagining education is essential to ensure learning remains relevant, inclusive, and responsive to their aspirations.<\/p>\n

In crisis-affected settings, education takes on added importance. Schools are not only places of learning but also spaces for protection, stability, and social cohesion, even as they are often among the first institutions disrupted during emergencies. A human security approach recognizes education as both a safeguard and a foundation for long-term resilience, addressing immediate risks while tackling the structural factors that keep children and youth out of school.<\/p>\n

In Lebanon, a programme supported by the UN Trust Fund for Human Security demonstrates how integrated support can help learners stay engaged. By combining education retention, psychosocial and protection services with support for caregivers and livelihood opportunities for youth and women, the initiative reduces barriers to participation while strengthening community resilience.<\/p>\n

When young people have access to safe, inclusive, and quality education, and a voice in shaping it, they are better equipped to navigate uncertainty and contribute to more peaceful and resilient societies.<\/p>\n

Learn more about the programme here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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20 January 2025: World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2025<\/h2>\n

On 20 January 2026, the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will convene in Davos, bringing together leaders from government, civil society, science, and the private sector to advance global cooperation amid growing risks and human insecurities. This year’s discussions will center on five interconnected global challenges, with investing in people as a fundamental theme for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient development.<\/p>\n

In an era of rapidly transforming labor markets, technology, and social dynamics, building human capacity has become essential for societies to thrive. This requires sustained public-private partnerships to ensure that no one is left behind as economies, workforces, and communities navigate profound structural shifts.<\/p>\n

This vision aligns closely with the work of the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS). The Fund supports programmes that place people at the center of analysis and action, enhancing their skills, agency, and community resilience to address today’s complex and interconnected risks.<\/p>\n

A clear example of this approach can be seen in Colombia, where a UNTFHS-supported programme leveraged business partnerships to invest directly in people as drivers of peace and development in post-conflict settings. By facilitating structured engagement among communities, local institutions, and the private sector, the programme expanded employment opportunities, entrepreneurship, and market access in vulnerable areas. Targeted training for youth and women strengthened technical and business skills, enabling meaningful participation in local value chains and supporting economic recovery.<\/p>\n

This programme demonstrates how investing in people\u2014a central theme at the World Economic Forum\u2014is vital to building resilient, peaceful societies and sustaining long-term development gains.<\/p>\n

Learn more about the Colombia programme here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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15 January 2025: Pioneering Human Security Monitoring in the Sahel<\/h2>\n

The Human Security Monitoring programme in the Sahel, supported by the UN Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) and implemented by IOM in Chad and Cameroon, is breaking new ground in how we understand and respond to complex human security challenges.<\/p>\n

By combining comprehensive administrative data with household surveys and local perceptions, this innovative programme captures not just what is happening, but how people experience safety, mobility, and well-being. This integration of multiple data sources allows for anticipatory action, giving decision-makers the evidence they need to act before crises escalate.<\/p>\n

In November, the programme entered a new phase with the launch of the region\u2019s first large-scale random digit dial phone survey (CATI). For the first time in the Sahel, thousands of people are being heard directly about their perceptions of security and mobility. This is setting new standards for data-driven, people-centered insights.<\/p>\n

The survey feeds into IOM\u2019s Solutions and Mobility Index (SMI), enhanced with this Human Security Module. By capturing nuanced perceptions and identifying emerging drivers of mobility, this initiative transforms data into actionable intelligence\u2014informing operational decisions, enabling adaptive responses, and supporting conflict prevention, stability, and long-term resilience.<\/p>\n

With this approach, the UNTFHS is leading the way in evidence-based programming, turning integrated data into actionable insights that help institutions anticipate challenges and strengthen communities.<\/p>\n

Learn more about the programme here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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11 December 2025: New UNTFHS programme in Niger uses human security to strengthen data for peace and development<\/h2>\n

Supported by the UNTFHS, the ILLIMI Niger programme, launched earlier this year, aims to strengthen the use of data in preventing, mitigating, and responding to interlinked challenges across the country. It brings together national institutions and the UN system to build a shared knowledge base and joint analytical capacity, leveraging inclusive digital tools and artificial intelligence to inform action.<\/p>\n

In a context where insecurity, displacement, food shortages, and climate shocks are deeply interconnected, ILLIMI offers a more comprehensive strategy for understanding how risks compound at the local level and for shaping effective responses. By connecting the dots between multiple dimensions of vulnerability, it aims to deliver more targeted and sustainable solutions.<\/p>\n

Following its official launch in October 2025\u2014attended by Brigadier General Amadou Didili, President of the High Authority for the Consolidation of Peace (HACP)\u2014the programme convened the inaugural meeting of its National Technical Group, bringing together key national and international partners to guide implementation and ensure strong local and national ownership.<\/p>\n

ILLIMI operationalizes the human security approach by advancing early action through improved access to timely, disaggregated data and by elevating the role of communities as partners in shaping local solutions. As Niger and the wider Sahel region experience increasingly complex, cross-border challenges, the programme provides a timely and forward-looking model for how data and inclusive partnerships can enable more effective, sustainable, and people-centered peace and development outcomes.<\/p>\n

Learn more about ILLIMI Niger.<\/a><\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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1 December 2025: Human Security in Action: Resilient Coasts in the Dominican Republic<\/h2>\n

What began as a coastal initiative to strengthen human security in fishing communities along the southwest coast of the Dominican Republic is now helping shape a broader model for resilience and crime prevention across the country.<\/p>\n

In these communities, artisanal fishing has sustained families for generations. Yet declining fish stocks, unpredictable income, and limited economic options have left many fishers deeply vulnerable. Without savings, cold-chain infrastructure, or stable markets, a single storm or broken motor can wipe out a week\u2019s earnings, pushing families into debt and, at times, into the reach of predatory actors. Positioned along major trafficking routes linking South America, North America, and Europe, coastal towns face additional pressures from drug transit, social fragmentation, and overstretched public safety systems.<\/p>\n

Supported by the UNTFHS and implemented with UNODC and FAO, the programme applies the human security approach to address these interconnected risks. By bringing together local authorities, national ministries, and fishing communities, it tackles both the economic and social drivers of their vulnerability. Initiatives include livelihood diversification, improved access to value chains, sustainable fishing practices that protect income and ecosystems, and strengthened coordination between communities and law enforcement through early-warning and prevention tools. Hands-on training for fishers, women, and youth in post-harvest processing, human safety, and value-added production equips community members with practical skills that reduce risks and foster independence. Community dialogue spaces help rebuild trust, strengthen governance, and align prevention, development, and security efforts.<\/p>\n

This targeted local effort is now evolving into a scalable model for addressing the impacts of transnational organized crime through prevention, inclusion, and resilience, demonstrating how human security can turn local priorities into system-wide solutions for safer, more sustainable coastal futures.<\/p>\n

To learn more, visit our YouTube channel<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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25 November 2025: Advancing Human Security for Women and Girls: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women<\/h2>\n

On 25 November 2025, the United Nations marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, reaffirming its commitment to protecting the rights, dignity, and safety of women and girls everywhere. Ending violence is not only a moral imperative but a foundational requirement for building peaceful, resilient, and thriving societies.<\/p>\n

It is in this spirit that the UNTFHS supports programmes that tackle the root causes of violence and empower women in all spheres of life. Grounded in the understanding that the security of women and girls is inseparable from the well-being and resilience of their communities, the Fund integrates gender-responsive prevention and protection across interventions and invests in the transformative power of women as leaders and agents of change.<\/p>\n

In El Salvador<\/a>, a UNTFHS-supported programme strengthens women\u2019s agency by providing training on preventing and addressing domestic and sexual violence while expanding access to economic services. Guided by the human security lens, the programme moves beyond short-term assistance to address systemic drivers of insecurity. This includes institutionalizing municipal structures for violence prevention, establishing gender units, supporting women\u2019s entrepreneurship, and creating citizen assistance offices within National Civil Police stations in high-risk areas.<\/p>\n

In C\u00f4te d\u2019Ivoire<\/a>, another UNTFHS programme advances women\u2019s protection and empowerment in the Gb\u00eak\u00ea region, where social, economic, and political pressures heighten risks of violence and exclusion. By placing women, youth, and persons with disabilities at the centre of local development, the initiative improves access to essential services and cultivates safer, more supportive environments. Community dialogue platforms, early warning systems, and conflict resolution mechanisms help tackle the factors that disproportionately affect women, particularly in the post-election context.<\/p>\n

Together, these examples show how the human security approach embeds protection, empowerment, and prevention within broader development and peacebuilding efforts. By addressing the interconnected insecurities that fuel violence and exclusion, human security helps build societies that are more inclusive, resilient, and peaceful, where every woman and girl can live free from fear and realize her full potential.<\/p>\n

Read more about the UNTFHS Programmes and how they advance women\u2019s rights here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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27 October 2025: Human-Centered Security for a Complex World (GCSP)<\/h2>\n

Recent geostrategic developments have focused global and national attention on traditional security priorities, a trend reflected in unprecedented increases in defense budgets. Yet, the growing complexity of contemporary threats, from rapid technological change to climate crises and the surge in conflicts worldwide, makes clear that military strength alone cannot sustain lasting stability. While national defense remains indispensable, preventing crises and addressing the root causes of instability demands a broader, people-centred approach.<\/p>\n

At the Geneva Security Debate on \u201cHuman-Centered Security for a Complex World,\u201d speakers made a compelling case for rebalancing today\u2019s security paradigm. The discussion, moderated by Anna Brach, Head of Human Security and Planetary Resilience at GCSP, featured Ambassador Mar\u00eda Fernanda Espinosa, Markus Derblom, Heba Aly, and Piotr Wolynski, with opening remarks from Ambassador Thomas Greminger and closing reflections by Ambassador Knut Vollebaek.<\/p>\n

Participants agreed that traditional, state-centered notions of security no longer meet the needs of today\u2019s world. In this context, weapons and deterrence alone do not make societies secure; lasting stability depends on enabling environments, social trust, and resilience. Human security offers both an epistemological and practical framework for addressing hybrid, transnational, and non-military threats.<\/p>\n

While speakers agreed that investments in prevention deliver proven returns, they observed that prevention is too often the first casualty of crisis-driven policymaking. Yet, prioritizing prevention and community-based approaches yields far greater dividends than responding to conflicts after they erupt. Likewise, promoting transparency and integrity in the security sector, such as through public reporting on defense expenditures, helps build the trust that underpins effective governance and stability. Resilient societies, regional and local cooperation, and multi-sectoral engagement are vital to addressing both current and emerging challenges.<\/p>\n

Some participants highlighted the need for reform of the multilateral and global security architecture, noting that systems designed for a pre-AI, pre-climate era are no longer fit for purpose. Today\u2019s threats to national and human security are increasingly transnational and interconnected, requiring a multilateral system grounded in human security principles. The growing support for Security Council reform among governments reflects a widening momentum for change.<\/p>\n

The discussion concluded with a shared conviction: lasting stability depends on protecting both states and societies. In an era of systemic risks, recommitting to human security is not only a moral imperative, it is a practical necessity for shaping a future of peace, resilience, and shared opportunity.<\/p>\n

Watch the full recorded session here<\/a> or the key highlights of the event here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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13 November 2025: Securing the Digital Space for Vietnamese Youth<\/h2>\n

Digital technology is transforming how people connect, learn, and engage with the world. While these innovations bring vast opportunities, they also introduce serious risks, particularly for young people. Social media, now amplified by AI features, can distort reality and expose youth to misinformation, exploitation, and harm.<\/p>\n

In Viet Nam, where nearly 73 percent of the population is online, these vulnerabilities are growing alongside the country\u2019s rapid digitalization. The increasing dependence on digital platforms underscores the urgent need to both protect and empower young people as they navigate this evolving landscape.<\/p>\n

In response, the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) is supporting the programme \u201cSecuring the Digital Space for Vietnamese Youth.\u201d Through human security, the initiative looks beyond traditional cybersecurity to address the full range of digital risks affecting young people\u2019s safety, dignity, and well-being. Its goal is to design and implement youth-centered solutions that engage, educate, and equip them to manage online threats effectively.<\/p>\n

Key objectives include: (i) analyzing current and emerging digital threats; (ii) promoting policy development that integrates a youth-focused digital security lens at national and local levels; and (iii) raising awareness and resilience among young people.<\/p>\n

Two major tools are under development: a Youth Digital Awareness Toolkit<\/strong>, co-created with young people from diverse backgrounds to strengthen digital literacy and resilience; and a Youth Digital Security Handbook<\/strong> for policymakers, aimed at embedding youth digital security into national strategies and ensuring young voices are reflected in decision-making.<\/p>\n

By placing human security at the heart of digital innovation, this programme seeks to build a safer, more inclusive online environment \u2014 one where every young person can thrive with confidence in the digital era. Stay tuned for more updates on the progress of this vital program.<\/p>\n

Read more about the programme here<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\t\n

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6 November 2025: Housing and Human Security for All<\/h2>\n

The Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD) featured a Solutions Session on 6 November 2025 in Doha titled \u201cUnlocking Social Development and Human Security through Housing: From Principles to Action.\u201d<\/em> Organized by the UN Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS), UN-Habitat, and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), and co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of Canada, Colombia, and Japan to the UN, the session emphasized that housing is not just shelter\u2014 it is a platform for inclusion, participation, and opportunity, and a driver of human security.<\/p>\n

Opening the discussion, Mr. Yukio Takasu, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Human Security, highlighted the urgency of addressing the global housing crisis, which affects more than 1.6 billion people worldwide. He stressed that this is not only a housing crisis but also a crisis of human security, dignity, justice, and hope. \u201cWhen housing is understood as a foundation of human security\u2014connected to health, livelihoods, and environment\u2014it becomes an engine of transformation,\u201d said Mr. Takasu. He called for turning shared vision into practice by placing people\u2019s needs and aspirations at the center of policy design and action.<\/p>\n

The session showcased innovative, community-led solutions from four cities, each offering valuable lessons for advancing human security through housing:<\/p>\n