Human Security 15 Years after Lysøen: The Case against Drone Killings

The concept of human security has evolved in two directions: (1) a comprehensive
vision of security and development, and (2) a concretization of the concept tied to
protection of civilians in armed conflict. This article discusses the two approaches
and their relative merits. Starting with the Lysøen Declaration of 1998 and Canada’s
subsequent introduction of the concept of human security in the Security Council,
the article argues that a concretization is necessary today. One way to do this is to
link human security to campaigns for protection of civilians against the U.S. use
of drones in targeted killings outside recognized war zones. This strategy would
revitalize human security as a relevant policy concept, and also create greater
security for people living in exposed communities.