In Graz, Austria, the Human Security Network met for its Fifth Ministerial Meeting from 8 through 10 May 2003 to reaffirm its commitment to promote human security principles and to support efforts aimed at enhancing the safety, dignity and the well being of people worldwide. The Meeting was chaired by the Austrian Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Mrs. Benita Ferrero-Waldner and attended by the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Chile, Mali, Norway, Switzerland, Thailand, the Ministers of State of Ireland and Jordan, the State Secretary for Multilateral Relations of Slovenia, the Secretary General of International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation of Greece as well as by Senior Officials of all Network countries: Austria, Canada, Chile, Greece, The Netherlands, Ireland, Jordan, Mali, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland and Thailand, along with South Africa (observer). A list of the heads of delegations and special guests is attached.

Strategic objectives of the Austrian Chair

• Focusing on two concrete issues of priority, namely Human Rights Education and Children Affected by Armed Conflict;
• Formulating in each area a major policy document as well as an appropriate training and learning tool to assist in the practical implementation of the two policy concepts with the overall aim of adding value to the response capacity of the international system in these fields;
• Strengthening the impact of the Network by making common statements in relevant international fora, such as the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, the UN Commission on Human Rights and relevant regional organizations in order to present a human security perspective to the international system, media and public opinion.

Principal achievements

On the initiative of the Chair and in close cooperation with all Partners, experts from international organizations and academia, the Network adopted the following documents:

• Graz Declaration on Principles of Human Rights Education and Human Security
• Understanding Human Rights - Manual on Human Rights Education
• Bridging the Gap - Support Strategy for Children affected by Armed Conflict
• Child Rights Training Curriculum - Child Protection, Monitoring and Rehabilitation
• HSN Medium-Term Work Plan

For the first time ever the Network as a Group addressed the Security Council, drawing its attention to the impacts of armed conflict on children, including to an alarming situation in this regard, and made recommendations for action.

Network members have sought to respond in more active ways both bilaterally and multilaterally to challenges which threaten human security and to emphasise the political importance of human security in the current situation. The Network recognizes that now, more than ever, a strong multilateral approach is essential. In this regard, the cross-regional approach adopted by the Network has the potential to overcome barriers and build alliances on critical human security issues.

The Meeting took place against the background of alarming levels of insecurity and suffering emanating from regional conflicts and the lack of human security as well as from the dangers of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. The Network stressed its firm adherence to the multilateral system of collective security represented by the United Nations and its abiding belief in the primacy of the UN Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security.

The Network expressed serious concern with the difficulties encountered by the Commission on Human Rights, especially its increased polarization. Acknowledging the importance of the Commission as a reflection of the multilateral system as a whole, the members of the Network expressed their desire to work together, in close cooperation with the High Commissioner for Human Rights, to improve the methods of work of the Commission in order to strengthen it.

The Meeting also recognized the need to address the root causes of armed conflicts and the interrelatedness between armed conflicts, poverty and lack of development. The Network, therefore, acknowledged the need to address in a balanced and comprehensive manner freedom from fear and freedom from want, to ensure human dignity in all circumstances.

Policy formulation and implementation

1. The Network reaffirmed that human rights constitute an essential framework for promotion and implementation of human security. To this end, the HSN adopted the Graz "Declaration on Principles of Human Rights Education and Human Security". The Declaration reaffirms human rights as the essential basis of human security and provides a guiding framework for all Network partners. Partners thereby also intend to work with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights in fulfilling its mandate in this regard. The Declaration is a policy concept aimed at fostering a "culture of human rights" in line with the recommendations of the UN-decade of Human Rights Education 1994-2004.
2. The Network welcomed the Manual "Understanding Human Rights" as a concrete contribution by the Austrian Chair in cooperation with HSN members to further the implementation of the 'Graz Declaration'. The process of consultation included HSN member states and over thirty international experts from academic institutions. Intended for global use, the Manual reflects an approach based on the universality of human rights and addresses itself to human rights educators and learners worldwide. It contains a variety of pedagogical materials to be used in human rights education of both, youth and adults. The Network recommended that the Manual be translated into several languages to increase its accessibility.
3. The Network underlined in its meeting in Graz, the first Human Rights City in Europe, the strategic significance of human rights education and learning for societal development of urban communities. The support given by HSN member countries to regional institutions, such as the support given by Austria to the African Learning Institution for Human Rights Education in Bamako, Mali, is an important contribution to human security building.
4. The other key theme of the Network during the Austrian Chair has been to give priority attention to the promotion and protection of the human rights of children affected by armed conflict. The Network committed itself to seek concrete action in preventing child rights violations in emerging, ongoing and post conflict situations and assisting child victims of armed conflict. It was inspired by the overall goal of 'bridging the gap' - between universal human rights standards and their implementation, between programmatic concepts and systematic response on the ground. With this in view, the HSN developed a 'HSN Support Strategy' that identifies a set of operative principles, including strengthening monitoring, reporting and training, and an alarm function in cases of child rights violations.
5. The Network welcomed a 'Child Rights Training Curriculum', developed by the Austrian Chair in cooperation with HSN members serving as a comprehensive check list that contains relevant principles, guidelines and references as well as exemplary training modules so as to be easily adaptable to the specific situations on the ground and target groups to be trained.
6. The documents on the two priority issues under the Austrian Chair attached as Annex were elaborated with the support of a platform of academic institutions. The Network adopted the documents, and engaged in an in-depth discussion to translate the commitments into concrete actions. In particular Members highlighted that the Graz Declaration on Human Rights Education and the Support Strategy for Children Affected by Armed Conflict constitute the guiding policy framework for the Network in these two important areas of activity. Emphasis was given to the active integration and participation of civil society. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights as well as other organisations like UNESCO, UNICEF, OSCE or the EU-Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia will assist the Network in distributing the Manual on 'Understanding Human Rights'. Regarding Children Affected by Armed Conflict further work concerning a possible alarm function should be carried. Equal attention should be given to child rights issues before, during and after conflict SRSG Otunnu welcomed the approach of the Network in focussing on making better known as well as fostering monitoring of implementation on the ground.
7. The Network expressed satisfaction with the progress made during this term on developing effective methods of work to maximize the HSN's impact by injecting human security concepts into the various organs of the United Nations and relevant regional organizations. The Network commended Austria for its leadership in elaborating and delivering statements on behalf of the HSN in the Security Council debates on 'Women, Peace and Security', on 'Protection of Civilians' and on 'Children and Armed Conflict' with a view to enhancing awareness of human security issues. Equally, the HSN addressed for the first time the UN Commission on Human Rights on 17 March 2003 focusing on inter-linkages regarding political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights in the light of the World Conference on Human Rights, convened ten years ago in Vienna in 1993.
8. The Network recognized that the elaboration of common approaches and, as appropriate, statements regarding specific agenda items enables the HSN to adopt a forward looking and policy shaping role. The Network encouraged implementation of relevant legal instruments and bridging implementation gaps in the field of international human rights law and humanitarian law. With this in view, the HSN voiced its satisfaction on activating HSN platforms in New York, Geneva and Vienna and in the margins of international conferences.
9. The Agenda also included a review of certain current issues or initiatives previously undertaken by the Human Security Network in earlier Ministerial Meetings convened in Lysøen, Norway (May, 1999), Lucerne, Switzerland (May, 2000), Petra, Jordan (May, 2001) and Santiago de Chile (July, 2002).
10. For the first time the Human Security Network agreed on a medium term work-plan (2003-2005), identifying priority initiatives that will strengthen the coherence and continuity of the HSN.
11. The Network welcomed progress made in the implementation of the Ottawa Convention to ban landmines. The HSN encouraged all States to sign, ratify and fully implement the Convention and agreed that the HSN continue its advocacy for its universalization. The HSN also stressed the importance of high-level participation at the Fifth Meeting of State Parties to the Ottawa Convention between 15-19 September 2003 in Bangkok, Thailand and urges non-State Parties to the Convention to attend the Meeting as observers.
12. The Network reviewed the dialogue process among HSN members, UN agencies and specialised NGOs about possibilities for addressing the urgent human security crisis posed by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons to the security of people. The Network will continue its work to further develop a people-centred approach to small arms proliferation and misuse in view of the 2003 Biennial Meeting on the UN Program of Action on Small Arms and beyond.
13. The Network stressed the importance of the 28th International Red Cross and Red Crescent Conference with the general theme of "Protecting Human Dignity" to be held from 2 to 6 December 2003 in Geneva and discussed possible joint contributions by the HSN in order to strengthen International Humanitarian Law. The Network took note with satisfaction on the support by the co-hosts for both workshops proposed by the HSN, namely on children in armed conflict and on the humanitarian consequences of small arms proliferation.
14. The Network noted the concern that narcotic drugs and related organized crimes increasingly threaten the well-being of society at large and particularly children. The Network stressed the need to comprehensively address the threat of narcotic drugs.
15. The Network stressed the importance of the struggle against HIV/AIDS and committed to work both individually and collectively towards recognition of HIV/AIDS as a human security threat at national, regional and international fora and to share experiences and best practices in addressing HIV/AIDS across regions. The Network will also forge partnerships with NGOs, the civil society and the private sector in addressing HIV/AIDS, inter alia, through community-based responses. The Network also drew attention to other diseases, including Tuberculosis and Malaria. It further recognized the recent emergence and spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) as an alarming threat to Human Security and noted the initiatives by Thailand in the framework of ASEAN with a view to preventing further loss of lives in Asia-Pacific and elsewhere.
16. The Network welcomed the publication on the initiative of the Chair of a compendium on universal child rights standards 'Children and Armed Conflict - International Standards for Action' primarily for the use by field personnel. The compendium has been produced in collaboration of the Network with the SRSG Otunnu on the initiative of the Austrian Foreign Minister.
17. The Network agreed that it would raise situations of great concern involving children in armed conflict with the aim of mobilizing an international response. In this regard, the Austrian Chair, on behalf of the Network had delivered a statement concerning the plight of children abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army in northern Uganda in January in the Security Council debate on 'Children and Armed Conflict' and had released a joint declaration on 12 February 2003, the first anniversary of the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child regarding the involvement of children in armed conflict. The Austrian Chair also referred to this situation in a statement at the high-level segment of the 59th Session of the Commission on Human Rights.
18. The Network noted with interest that many of its members have provided substantial humanitarian assistance, through UN agencies, the ICRC and relevant humanitarian NGO's, to the Iraqi people in the aftermath of the conflict in that country. Several Members welcomed or expressed support for the Austrian-Slovenian initiative in cooperation with Jordan, to assist war traumatized children and child victims in Iraq by providing professional psychosocial care and help. In this connection Jordan also informed about the most recent establishment of two Jordanian hospitals in Iraq. The Meeting encouraged initiatives of HSN Members, either individually and collectively, to provide humanitarian assistance.
19. The Network welcomed the inauguration of the International Criminal Court (ICC) with the swearing in of the 18 Judges on 11 March 2003, as a further step to end impunity from war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
20. As regards further development of International Law the Network focused on the following instruments which it considers of particular relevance to HSN agenda: the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict and the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography. It reiterated its commitment to promote the widest possible number of ratifications of these instruments, as well as for the full implementation of the provisions contained therein.

Human security policy studies

21. The Network noted with interest the report by the Human Security Commission entitled "Human Security Now", presented by Ms. Sadako Ogata in her capacity as Co-Chair of the Commission at the public opening session of the Meeting.
22. The Network welcomed the valuable work of the Harvard Program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research and its role as policy and advocacy platform for the Network, particularly through its workshop on 'Children and Armed Conflict' on 8 November 2002 and the continued publication of the Human Security Network News Bulletin.
23. The Network exchanged views on the report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty entitled "The Responsibility to Protect", and agreed that the Human Security Network would further discuss the report's recommendations and consider ways of supporting follow-up effort20) The Network welcomed the progress made on the creation of an annual Human Security Report by the Human Security Centre of the Liu Institute for Global Issues and underlined its usefulness for policy formulation.
24. The Network also acknowledged the initiative to create a regional/national support network of Human Security Study centres comprising civil society, academic institutions and non-governmental organizations, in order to provide input for Network countries as well as to support dissemination of human security perspectives at the international, regional and national levels and welcomed in this regard the creation of a regional Centre in Athens.
25. The Network took note of Chiles membership on the Security Council from 2002 to 2004, and welcomed the interest of Chile to advance the human security agenda in this capacity.
26. The Network decided that the Chairs during the period 2003-2004, 2004-2005 and 2005-2006 should be assumed by Mali, Canada and Thailand and looked forward to the next Ministerial Meeting to take place in Bamako, Mali, in May, 2004, and acknowledged with gratitude the kind offer of the Government of Canada to host the Seventh Ministerial Meeting of the Human Security Network in 2005, to be followed by Thailand in 2006.
27. Ministers, State Secretaries, and Heads of delegations expressed their deep gratitude for the hospitality offered by the Government of Austria and H.E. Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ms. Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and their profound satisfaction with all arrangements made by the Chair in preparation for the Fifth Ministerial Meeting in Graz, the First Human Rights City of Europe.