(Special speaker: UN ASG for Strategic Coordination, Mr. Fabrizio Hochschild)

(Moderator: Prof. Ai Kihara-Hunt, Deputy Director, Research Center for Sustainable Peace)

“Future of Human Security: Its Increased Importance in the Struggling World– from the United Nations Perspective”

【Summary】

On 8 March, the Graduate Program on Human Security, the University of Tokyo, hosted a special lecture by the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination, Mr. Fabrizio Hochschild. Research Center for Sustainable Peace was one of the co-organizers of this event. He questioned if our generation could hope for a better world for the next generation while highlighting seven major challenges today: i)climate change, ii)growing inequality, iii)lack of clarity in  geopolitical power relations leading to  greater unpredictability, iv)increasing number and complexity of armed conflicts, v)global threat of terrorism, vi)reduction of space in human rights promotion and protection, and vii)uncertainty of frontier technology. These threats are taking place simultaneously and are mutually reinforcing. For example, increasing inequality can push marginalized people to further alienation, give rise to nationalism and isolationalism, and create an opportunity for recruitment by extremist groups. The rise of terrorism comes with the absence of the rule of law and many terrorist-related activities operate in developing countries. It is therefore important to have a comprehensive measure to address the root causes of terrorism. Technology advancement is moving at a speed that outstrips public scrutiny so much so that policy makers cannot keep up. When the internet was created, people hoped that it would make the world better, but such technology is also susceptible to new forms of manipulation in which it is used as a tool for warfare.

Currently, there is mistrust for multilateral organization including the UN. This is paradoxical, given the challenges that we are facing are transnational in nature, and require solutions through cooperation. The UN’s relevance is ever more vital.

The UN is under a major reform to make itself more effective, to tackle discrimination, to reduce bureaucracy, and to have better coherence in its approach. The emphasis of the reform is on prevention, anticipating crisis and building resilience.

On the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mr Hochschild described them as a comprehensive tool in addressing contemporary issues. Japan has been leading  on the human security approach, which echoes the Secretary-General’s vision. Both concepts  focus on the most vulnerable people. By taking an integrated, needs-based and comprehensive approach, and by addressing the root causes of issues, human security can bring results.

(summary by Haruka Mizobata, Ai Kihara-Hunt)

(Participants of the discussion after the special lecture)