Human Security in Counter-Terrorist Policies during the Bush Administration (2001-2008) (original) (raw)

Counterterrorism and its Affronts to Human Rights

Since the 21st century, there has been a sharp rise in terrorism and counterterrorism measures that are an insult to both international and domestic human rights. This essay will attempt to define the intersection of counterterrorism and human rights and why it is important to either adapt existing norms or adopt new conceptions on the constraints to armed conflict. Global interconnectedness also called globalization is not only a phenomenon felt in the realms of economics and culture but is also keenly evident in armed conflict. Modern national security, non-state actors, and detention methods represent the cogs of conflict interconnectedness in the 21st century. Focusing on these three areas will show how counterterrorism is eroding the protection of human rights from outside and within, specifically in the United States of America (US), but also many other nations. Just as the arguments around regulating the effects of globalization are rather heated, so too is the discourse surrounding adaptation and innovation in the methods of counterterrorism. In referencing the current political climate in the US, this essay will conclude that the status quo for human rights will prevail if not become worse in time.

Human Security in Contemporary International Politics : Limitations and Challenges

2017

Since the Post-Cold War, human security studies have become attracted in the international community and in the security studies. From the human security standpoint, individual security is more significant than the security of the state. At the core of this study is one essential question: To what extent do you agree that Human Security offers a radical and progressive agenda for thinking about and ‘doing’ security? In order to answer of the main question, the purpose of this article is to examine human security assumptions. The thesis, therefore will argue that human security does not ultimately offer a radical and progressive agenda for international security policy. Thus, this study concludes that human security statements are likely to be unsuccessful in practice.

Human Rights and Terrorism: A Psycho-Social Perspective

This chapter discusses the relationship of Human rights and terrorism as one of the most important issues in contemporary human rights jurisprudence. This is an area that needs both political as well as psycho-social attention. Every human being on this universe is entitled to human rights on the basis of simple characteristic of human being and the same perception has also been recognized under the framework of International law. Human rights, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, United Nations (UDHR) are the rights inherent to all human beings irrespective of our nationality, place of residence, sex, colour and religion we belong to, language/languages we speak or any other status. (Un.org/universal Declaration_1) These are the universal values and legal assurances that protect individuals and groups against actions and omissions primarily by State agents that interfere with fundamental freedoms, entitlements and human dignity. INTRODUCTION The full spectrum of human rights involves respect for, and protection and fulfillment of civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, as well as the right to development. Human rights are interdependent and indivisible, inalienable and not-derogable even in cases when some of them can be derogated under the need of the time. Human Rights and Terrorism being a great threat to the welfare and violations, being not only a disputed concern but protection of these rights during counter-terrorism operations is also most relevant and requires discussion from all perspectives, because various abuses have been reported in the recent history regarding the violations of human rights during the conduct of counter-terrorism operations and abuse of process on the pretext of counter-terrorism measures. (Globalisation.org/human rights_2) It has also been observed by the international bodies and organizations that the violations committed during counter-terrorism operations are as much serious in nature as the acts of terrorism themselves and make no difference between the acts of terrorists and those who claim to be acting against them for the elimination of the same. Some of the main reasons behind the violations of human rights are that the definition of terrorism itself has not been agreed upon among the states of the World claiming to be the eliminators of terrorism, and the same is due to the personal interests of the states and particularly the powerful states, because terrorists of one state or nation may be the heroes and freedom fighters of the other, and the freedom fighters of one may be the terrorists for the other one. On the basis of this reason, most of the times powerful states succeed to get control over the insurgents and use their own measures and parameters for the use of force, collateral damage, and principles of necessity which cause apprehension for the violations of human rights.(Jawad, 2015_3)

A Regime in Need of a Balance: The UN Counter-terrorism Regime between Security and Human Rights

2013

Abstract: Since 9/11, the UN’s counter-terrorism regime has developed two distinct approaches on combating international terrorism. The Security Council follows a traditional security doctrine that focuses on how to best protect states from the threat posed by international terrorists. This is largely due to the centrality of the state in Security Council thinking and attitudes. The General Assembly and the various UN human rights organs, influenced by the human security doctrine, have taken a more holistic, human rights-based approach to the threat of international terrorism. This paper offers a review of how the dichotomy above affects the application of UN policy vis-a-vis the UN’s counterterrorism regime. This paper calls for a bridging of the gap between these two approaches, advocating an interdisciplinary approach that combines traditional security with human security considerations. Since 9/11, the UN’s counter-terrorism regime has developed two distinct approaches on combat...

Defining International Terrorism to Protect Human Rights in the Context of Counter-terrorism

Security and Human Rights

The main argument of this article is that defining international terrorism will further the protection of human rights in the context of counter-terrorism. For this purpose, it will be shown that the transnational legal system under which counter-terrorism operates is fraught with problems regarding human rights protection. Secondly, it will be shown how domestic counter-terrorism legislation can become a breeding ground for serious human rights violations, when based on too broad or otherwise problematic definitions of terrorism. Finally, it will be explored how human rights protection has been addressed so far by the relevant bodies of the United Nations and to what extent, if finalised, an internationally agreed upon definition of terrorism in the framework of the UN Comprehensive Convention will contribute to a fuller enjoyment of rights in a counterterrorism context.

Human Security: from National Security to Sustainable Human Development

Human security is an emerging interdisciplinary paradigm, developed and debated over the last 20 years. The concept was launched in 1994, within the Human Development Report, published by the United Nations. The development of human security represents the beginning of a complex transition process from conventional security, which is deals with national and territorial issues, towards a new security approach, focused on individuals and human communities. The aim of the study is to highlight the most significant aspects regarding terminology, approaches, characteristics, dimensions and indicators of human security in order to understand the perspectives of development for this emerging concept. Another important objective consists in analyzing the report between human security and related concepts, such as human development and sustainability. The results of the research show a growing interest in human security in the academic field over the last decades. We can also note several contradictions regarding the definition of the paradigm. In general, the interdisciplinary approach, characterized by a stronger relationship with sustainability and human development, is the most common among researchers. However, there are also critics who argue that this approach goes beyond conventional security studies which are focused on the issues of violence and conflict. This fact still generates impediments in applying the concept through concrete measures, such as human security assessment or specific development policies.

Human Security: International and National Security Perspectives

Human Security: Myth or Reality?, 2022

Over the past decade, the concept of human security has influenced and challenged global politics, institutions and governance. As we look into the contemporary structures of many existing security agendas within policy making circles, there is a general consensus that reformation is needed, in many ways. Since many changes or influxes within the security environment may shift instantly with the rise of evolving security threats, including those which have a transnational character, are prone to exist in a modernizing global world. Central to this approach is the perception of security as priorities most often vary from one state, or party to another. The holistic vision of protecting the security of populations lends itself to a variety of interpretations shaped by the relative understandings of what constitutes a threat to the security of an individual, per say. This leads us to question how the intensity and repercussions of any given threat may be measured, and by which means we may eliminate or prevent it. Understanding and effectively analyzing current security trends in relation to human security and human welfare are key issues for upcoming security threats in the future, as must be the main consideration when looking at policy making mechanisms. Often such threats have historically proven to have a tendency to affect people regardless of the region, or context reminding us that each and every individual, is to some extent at least, vulnerable to a single form of insecurity. The extent to which they are affected or the probability which they may be, in respect to insecurity is a whole study by itself.