A Human Security Agency is an organization—typically governmental or intergovernmental—designed to protect individuals and communities from a wide range of threats that affect their safety, dignity, and well-being. Unlike traditional security institutions that focus mainly on defending the state from external or military threats,
A Human Security Agency centers its mission on the security of people. It recognizes that modern threats to safety are diverse and often non-military, such as poverty, environmental Human Security Agency disasters, disease, crime, and human rights violations.
The concept of human security became widely recognized in the 1994 United Nations Human Development Report, which argued that true security must include freedom from fear, freedom from want, and the ability to live with dignity. Building on this idea, Human Security Agencies work to address the root causes of insecurity and respond directly to issues that threaten individuals’ daily lives.
A Human Security Agency may operate at national, regional, or international levels. At the national level, it may resemble a governmental department that coordinates policies relating to public safety, social welfare, disaster preparedness, and protection of vulnerable groups.
At the international level, such agencies might be part of partnerships involving organizations like the United Nations, regional bodies, or humanitarian institutions. Their responsibilities may include assessing emerging risks, designing policies for prevention and response, and cooperating with other institutions to ensure comprehensive protection for populations.