Human rights, human security and disarmament

This issue of Disarmament Forum examines the relationship between human rights and human security. Human security and human rights share common values, and a discussion of one demands consideration of the other. It has been argued that human rights offer the conceptual and normative framework for implementing the concept of human security and that opportunities exist to build upon the fundamental connections between the two areas to strengthen this synergistic relationship. Others are more cautious, fearing that 'folding' human rights—a body of norms codified in international law—into the 'new' concept of human security could seriously weaken or minimize the importance of the human rights regime. This issue of Disarmament Forum explores these themes, as well as the links between human rights and WMD, the challenges of measuring human security, small arms control as a human rights issue, and a review of the existing human rights mechanisms from a human security perspective.

iii, 64 p.

Includes bibliographical references.

1020-7287