At the invitation of Federal Councillor Joseph Deiss, Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the second Ministerial Meeting of the Human Security Network took place in Lucerne, Switzerland, on 11-12 May 2000. Ministers and representatives of the governments of Austria, Canada, Chile, Greece, Ireland, Jordan, Mali, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Thailand and Switzerland participated. South Africa attended as an observer.

In addressing the current crisis in Sierra Leone, Ministers and representatives adopted a statement, which was issued together with this document.

The special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Internally Displaced Persons, Francis Deng, delivered a key-note speech on the first day of the meeting. In his statement, he emphasised the gravity of the problem of internal displacement and called for international action. He also made reference to The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and underlined that Human Security provides an umbrella for both the normative meaning of sovereignty as responsibility and the basis for holding Governments accountable and providing people with the international protection and assistance. The Network welcomed his activity and called for increased support for it.

On the first day, Ministers and representatives of the Human Security Network were joined by representatives of the ICRC and the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, as well as experts from civil society, in an open meeting dedicated to two topics: the challenge posed by the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, and the role of non-state actors in the promotion of human security.

On the second day, Ministers and representatives met in a closed session to discuss urgent issues in the field of human security and possible ways in which Network governments could work as a community of like-minded states in addressing them.

A Commitment to Human Security

Ministers and representatives of the Human Security Network reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening human security with a view to creating a more humane world where people can live in security and dignity, free from want and fear, and with equal opportunities to develop their human potential to the full.

In pursuing this vision, Network members committed themselves to working together and individually to combat poverty and to contribute to sustainable human development. In particular, they committed themselves to working towards the improvement of the well being of all the peoples by achieving sustained and broad-based income growth which required, among others, investment in health and education. Ministers and representatives undertook to promote respect for human rights and international humanitarian law, and to strengthen the rule of law and good governance. They recognised the need to foster a culture of peace, including the peaceful resolution of conflicts, to control the instruments of violence and to end impunity in case of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

Ministers and representatives recognised that threats to human security differ from one region of the world to another, as do available resources to meet these threats. Network governments would work to build, over time, a growing consensus on human security at the global level, and, at the same time, would promote regional approaches and flexible frameworks for co-operation. They emphasised the importance of an inclusive and transparent approach.

International co-operation amongst like-minded states and the broader community of state and non-state actors is essential for building human security. For this reason, Ministers and representatives proposed that the Network deepen its informal contacts with interested States and NGOs, and promote further sustained consideration of human security issues in international and regional fora, in particular the UN, as well as within the framework of international financial institutions. In so doing, they fully recognised that pooling resources from all sources, government, private sector and civil society is crucial for their collective and co-ordinated efforts to achieve the well being as well as safety and security of all the peoples.

In Partnership with NGOs

Ministers and representatives stressed the crucial role of NGOs as key non-state actors partners in developing, advocating, building and implementing human security. They recognised the invaluable expertise, energy and commitment devoted by NGOs to progress across a range of key issues relevant to the security of people – from small arms, to war-affected children, to landmines, to the promotion of the International Criminal Court. Recognising these contributions, they undertook to work nationally and in international fora to promote greater engagement, inclusivity and transparency between governments and civil society on human security issues.

In Support of the UN Millennium Report

Ministers and representatives welcomed the UN Secretary-General's Millennium Report "We the Peoples: The Role of the UN in the 21st century". This report highlights the fact that the central challenge for all of us is to ensure that globalisation becomes a positive force for all the world's peoples. Thus, it emphasises the need for governments to shift the way they think and act to "put people at the centre of everything we do". Ministers and representatives endorsed this vision and undertook, as a community, to review the report to determine how they could most effectively act to support and implement its recommendations.

Ministers and representatives also noted the important progress made with the adoption of the UN Secretary-General's Report on the Protection of Civilians. They consider this Report as a global reference point and framework for action which will give new priority to the safety and security of people in times of armed conflict.

Taking Action: Advancing Security for People

In Lucerne, Ministers and representatives of the Human Security Network stressed the need for concrete action in support of the human security agenda. The summaries of the discussions on the issues of:

- Small Arms and Light Weapons and the 2001 Conference

- The Role of Non-State Actors and Human Security

are attached to this document. In addition to these two main subjects, they discussed initiatives in the following areas:

Corporate Citizenship

Ministers and representatives considered new partnerships in promoting human security. In particular, they highlighted the role of the private sector – from multinationals to small and medium-sized enterprises – to enhance the value of good "corporate citizenship" as a way to promote human security. Ministers and representatives recognised the important contribution made by the UN Secretary General in presenting the “Global Compact” initiative. They undertook to promote an exchange of views about this effort, as well as the results of work within the OECD and elsewhere focussed on the development of frameworks for engagement and co-operation with the private sector.

War-Affected Children

Ministers and representatives highlighted the tragedy and plight of war-affected children and underscored the need to deal with this challenge in a comprehensive way. They welcomed agreement on the text of an Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict. Ministers and representatives pledged the readiness of their governments (i) to formally adhere to the Optional Protocol when it is first opened for signature at the forthcoming special session of the General Assembly, June 5-9, 2000 in New York; (ii) to undertake all efforts to ensure rapid national ratification, without reservations, and implementation, including setting the highest standards in relation to voluntary recruitment and the necessary safeguards and (iii) to work together as a community to promote the Protocol’s early entry into force and universalisation.

At the same time, they recognised that the adoption of new and strengthened international norms is but one part of a necessarily broader effort to address the complex needs of war-affected children. They recognised that their governments, working in co-operation with international and regional organisations and civil society, need to act in concert to promote a range of other, inter-related measures such as monitoring and acting in situations of conflict and developing conflict and to prevent the recruitment of children, as well as their disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration efforts; rehabilitation, counselling, education, employment, health programmes and, in general, respect for the rights of the child. They noted the importance of regional action in support of this agenda and the recent Meeting of West African ministers in Ghana, the coming Regional Asia-Pacific Conference on the Use of Children in Armed Conflicts, in Nepal, and the OSCE Seminar on Children and Armed Conflicts.

International Criminal Court

Ministers and representatives agreed that ending the culture of impunity was a key element of the human security agenda. The establishment of the International Criminal Court was, thus, considered a priority objective for Network governments. They agreed to work actively together and on a national basis to support the prompt creation of an independent and effective International Criminal Court by: encouraging widespread ratification of the ICC Statute both to bring the Statute into force and to give the Court a broad jurisdiction; working actively within the ICC Preparatory Commission to develop technical instruments that would ensure an effective and credible institution thus encouraging additional adherents; encouraging states that have not yet signed the ICC Statute to do so, and agreeing to promote and participate in activities that would contribute to sharing expertise on implementing the obligations of the ICC Statute.

Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts

Ministers and representatives recognised the importance of maintaining international attention and action on the protection of civilians in armed conflict. Building on the efforts launched at their last meeting, they agreed to continue to make common cause to promote improved legal and physical protection for civilians of armed conflict, by:

- pledging their full support to and participating actively in follow-up to the Secretary-General’s recommendations in his report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in fora within and outside the UN, in particular regarding the implementation of specific measures which would enhance civilian protection;

- encouraging the ratification of and adherence to major instruments of international humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law; monitoring their implementation and helping to build the domestic legal capacity of states, through the provision of technical assistance to enable them to fully implement these instruments and encouraging states to prosecute those responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes;

- promote efforts to enhance the protection and assistance for internally displaced persons and other war affected populations and, in this regard, note the positive and increasing use of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement by many organisations at the field level in situations of armed conflict;

- working together to support and encourage human rights training for personnel involved in peace operations and other field level activities.

- promote and support efforts within the UN and other fora to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of sanctions regimes, with particular attention to their humanitarian impact, taking note of the efforts within the UN Security Council towards this end and expressing support for the recently established Council working group tasked with examining sanctions regimes.

Action against Anti-Personnel Mines

Ministers and representatives expressed their will to continue to promote the universalisation and ratification of the Mine Ban Convention, particularly at the regional and sub-regional levels.

They encourage all states to participate in the Intersessional Standing Committees of Experts with a view to ensuring systematic progress in implementing the commitments in the Convention and a successful 2nd meeting of States Parties this September in Geneva.

The need for close co-ordination and exploration of new opportunities for joint action was emphasised in regard to preventive measures including stockpile destruction. The Network shall continue to enhance information sharing within the partnership between States as well as with NGOs.

Ministers and representatives welcome the Strategic Framework for Mine Victim Assistance, which was launched in Maputo at the First Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Convention. The Strategic Framework is an integrated and comprehensive victim assistance concept, which puts aid to mine victims in a broader context of individual and community safety, and addresses the political, socio-economic, and security aspects of post-conflict reconstruction and development. Ministers and representatives stressed the need to develop further and implement this concept and recommended including victim assistance and violence prevention in the human security agenda.

Education on Human Rights

Ministers and representatives recognised that most threats to human security reveal a direct or indirect human rights dimension. Therefore, human rights education and learning constitute an important avenue towards strengthening human security. Knowledge and understanding of human rights and humanitarian norms and principles by broad sectors of every society are central objectives of an overall strategy for achieving a sustained human security.

Ministers and representatives agreed to work together with a view to providing political leadership for enhancing human security through human rights education and learning at national, regional, and global levels, taking account of the opportunities offered by the current UN Decade for Human Rights Education. To this end, they agreed to cooperate closely in the field of human rights education and learning to encourage co-operation among national institutions, NGOs and focal points concerned with human rights education and learning.

Conflict Prevention

Preventing conflicts is the best impediment to the deterioration of human security. Conflict prevention requires addressing the root causes of conflict, such as poverty, environmental degradation and lack of economic opportunities.

Guided by this approach, Ministers and representatives agreed that to create a conducive environment for the prevention of conflicts and the promotion of human security, social safety-nets programs need to be formulated and implemented as the forefront of preventive strategies. Building firm social safety nets, through inter alia, self-employment, education and health services, would ensure that countries are well equipped with necessary social instruments to prevent conflicts and crises, and to respond to and manage conflicts and crises in an effective, timely and sustainable manner.

Ministers and representatives also stressed the importance of human resources development in enhancing the goal of human security. They agreed to examine possible ways and means to co-ordinate these efforts in their assistance to conflict/crisis-prone societies with regard to human resources development as a means of preventive strategies. They also emphasised the important role of human resources development in conflict/crisis and post-conflict/crisis societies and would ensure their co-ordinated efforts in this regard.

Next steps

Ministers and representatives welcomed the offer of Jordan to host the Third Ministerial Meeting in Amman, in 2001.

Ministers and representatives decided to hold intersessional meetings devoted to the following: corporate citizenship (Canada); co-operation with humanitarian organisations and NGOs to discuss frameworks of engagement with armed groups (Switzerland).

A report on activities of the Network will be circulated by Norway.

Coming events and projects

The International Workshop on Human Security and Human Rights Education will take place in Graz, Austria, on 30 June – 1 July 2000.

The International Conference on War-Affected Children will take place in Winnipeg, Canada, 13-17 September 2000. In this context, Canada circulated a six point action plan on war affected children, and invited views from Network partners.

A learning Forum on Gender Relations in Post-conflict Transitions is planned to take place in Oslo, Norway, in October or November 2000, co-sponsored by Norway, Canada and Switzerland.

Jordan presented a project to realise a Human Security and Conflict Management Centre in Amman, in co-operation with Canada, Norway and Switzerland. Aim of the Centre is to promote a culture of peace and respect of pluralism and human rights, promote intellectual and political debate on peace and peaceful means of conflict resolution, and identify humanitarian problems and potential trouble arising from socio-economic development, resource sharing and environmental issues that may threaten people’s quality of life. The Centre will be an independent, non-governmental, non-profit organisation and shall be working closely with countries and individuals in the region to achieve these goals. Hopefully, the Centre will be functioning before the Third Ministers’ Meeting in Amman.

Greece presented the initiative “Olympic Truce” (Athens 2004) as a global opportunity to implement the human security agenda by means of one of the oldest traditions in peace-making.

The Netherlands presented a proposal to establish an interactive database on non-state armed groups, so as to facilitate the exchange of information, lessons learned and best practice in engaging with such armed groups. The Netherlands and Switzerland offered to take the initiative in conducting a feasibility study to explore the possibilities for establishing such a database, the results of which will be presented at the Third Ministerial Meeting in Amman.

Small Arms and Light Weapons and the 2001 Conference

As one of the two main subjects, Ministers and representatives of the Human Security Network discussed the issue of the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons. They recognised the Human Security Network as well positioned to consider and highlight the complex and comprehensive set of issues that must be addressed if the global community is to deal effectively with the small arms issue.

Ministers and representatives emphasised their continuing concern about the proliferation and misuse of small arms. As the UN Secretary-General puts it in his Millennium Report, small arms are an issue of “...human rights and of development. The proliferation of small arms sustains and exacerbates armed conflicts. It endangers peacekeepers and humanitarian workers. It undermines respect for international humanitarian law. It threatens legitimate but weak governments and it benefits terrorists as well as the perpetrators of organised crime.”

To respond effectively to the diverse and interrelated challenges posed by small arms proliferation and misuse, Ministers and representatives urged the international community to adopt a comprehensive and co-ordinated approach. In this context, they emphasised that bringing a human security perspective to the challenge of small arms proliferation draws attention to central issues such as the impact of underdeveloped economic conditions and social inequities, war economies and trafficking in drugs and natural resources, war-affected children, and to governance issues such as security sector reform, abuse of human rights and corruption. Factors such as these create and feed the conditions of insecurity and fear that underlay the continuing demand for weapons and need to be considered.

Ministers and representatives stressed that sustained and complementary efforts are required at all levels - local, national, regional and international - and that co-operation and co-ordination between and among states, international organisations, regional bodies, and civil society is necessary. They acknowledged that both suppliers and recipients countries bear responsibility in finding common solutions to counter the vicious cycle of violence.

Ministers and representatives firmly believe that it is essential to ensure that non-governmental experts and representatives of concerned civil society groups are closely involved in the whole process of the 2001 Conference, so that their experience and proposals may be heard and considered.

Ministers and representatives were encouraged by recent regional initiatives and programmes in the small arms area, such as the Southern African Regional Action Programme on Light Arms and Illicit Trafficking, the ECOWAS Moratorium and the PCASED, the East-African initiative for the Horn and Great Lakes Region, the EU Joint Action, work within the OAS, the OAU, the OSCE, the EAPC, the Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe, and the ARF, as well as initiatives led by NGOs and civil society. They acknowledged the importance of regional initiatives as building blocks towards international action.

Ministers and representatives noted that their discussion in Lucerne was taking place at a particularly important moment as the international community prepares for a major UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in all its Aspects, to take place in 2001. They agreed that this Conference should be a focal point for strengthening and developing international efforts to prevent and reduce the proliferation and misuse of small arms. They affirmed their strong commitment to work to ensure a successful Conference, and follow-up work. As to the latter point, they stressed that the Conference is not an end in itself, but rather an important means for future action in the area of small arms.

Ministers and representatives agreed that the main aim of the 2001 Conference should be to establish an international plan of action to prevent and reduce excessive and destabilising accumulation and spread of small arms and to combat the illicit trade in such weapons, as licit and illicit transfers are often closely linked. The plan of action should include follow-up mechanisms to promote its implementation and further development, as well as ensure constant co-ordination between regions.

Ministers and representatives noted the discussions at the first session of the preparatory committee for the 2001 Conference, and that the second session will take place in January 2001 in New York. They stressed their commitment to work together and individually, to ensure that best use is made of the period between the two preparatory sessions to advance practical work and build the political will and global consensus required for a successful 2001 Conference.

Ministers and representatives pledged their support to the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee in his efforts to undertake a comprehensive and substantive consultative process in the lead up to the second session of the PrepCom and the 2001 Conference itself. They emphasised that, to ensure that the problem of the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons was considered “in all its aspects”, the significant threat to human security posed by small arms needs to be fully taken into account. They agreed to seek ways to promote and support all appropriate intersessional preparatory work, in co-operation with all interested countries.

Substantive discussions in view of the 2001 Conference could usefully be based around a number of clusters of related topics that should be addressed in the international plan of action. For example, the following clusters could be used:

• Promoting a secure environment in conflict-prone or war-torn regions, through, in particular, strengthening and reforming of security sector institutions and promoting implementation of disarmament, demobilisation and re-integration programmes.
• Preventing excessive and destabilising accumulations and transfers of small arms and combating illicit arms trafficking, through, in particular, strengthening of marking, record-keeping and tracing;
• Ensuring appropriate control of the legal manufacture and transfer of small arms, including the activities of brokers, the risks of diversion, and the importance of reducing small arms flows to conflict regions;
• Strengthening international co-operation and information exchange between governments, licensing or judicial authorities, and enforcement agencies as well as improving transparency;
• Enhancing stockpile management and security, and promoting destruction or responsible disposal of ‘surplus’ weapons in official stocks;
• Promoting and assisting collection, responsible disposal and destruction of excessive or illicit weapons;

Guided by these clusters, Ministers and representatives agreed that consideration and support should be given, as appropriate, to the creation of programmes to assist countries in implementing national strategies and contributing to regional and international actions.

Ministers and representatives also agreed that Network members would share information on activities related to their work on the above range of issues as well as their general preparations for and contributions to the 2001 Conference. In this regard, reference was made to the recently established working group in Geneva, which includes all Network members.

Substantive discussions in view of the 2001 Conference should take appropriate account of regional initiatives and of work taking place in other international fora. Such discussions should, for example, complement and mutually re-inforce work being done in Vienna to elaborate a firearms protocol as part of the negotiations for a UN convention against transnational organised crime.

To underline the significant threat to human security posed by small arms, and as a contribution to the preparatory process of the 2001 Conference, a copy of this Chairman’s summary will be submitted to the Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the 2001 Conference.

Non-State Actors and Human Security

Ministers and representatives of the Human Security Network discussed the roles of non-state actors in building human security, acknowledging that in today’s world, particularly in situations of armed conflict, states are not the only actors to have important influence and responsibility for strengthening the safety and security of people. While recognising that the term “NSAs” encompasses a highly diverse group of players - from NGOs and humanitarian organisations to the private sector and armed groups - Network governments agreed that these actors can have an essential impact and exercise considerable influence with respect to advancing human security.

Ministers and representatives paid particular attention to the role of armed groups, whose activities have very often a direct bearing on human security. Deep concern was expressed about the increasing numbers of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in situations of armed conflict. Ministers and representatives emphasised that the security of affected populations, including humanitarian workers, would be greatly improved if all parties, including armed groups, would promote respect for existing international law and principles. It was reaffirmed that the basic rules of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions are applicable, and that human rights are to be respected in all circumstances.

Ministers and representatives expressed their support for the establishment of an interactive database on armed groups all over the world, containing information on, inter alia, history and background, objectives, leadership, political base, military capabilities, command structures, financing, record on co-operation with humanitarian organisations, observance of human rights and humanitarian law, and other relevant information, as well as an Internet site on which up-to-date information on armed groups can be exchanged for use by humanitarian organisations, corporations and other actors. Ministers and representatives invited governments and NGO's to contribute to the publication of such a handbook and the establishment of an Internet site with financing, information, material support, and other means.

Ministers and representatives noted that humanitarian organisations and NGOs are increasingly finding their operations challenged, obstructed and sometimes curtailed as a result of the often violent actions of armed groups. In order to ensure the effectiveness of humanitarian operations, and to enhance protection for people, these organisations are seeking ways to engage such armed groups in respecting international humanitarian and human rights law. To support their efforts, Ministers and representatives recommended that Network governments work together with relevant humanitarian organisations and institutions to exchange and review lessons learned, and to develop practical and effective strategies of engagement with armed groups, in the service of human security objectives. Furthermore, recognising the importance of developing policy tools effective for influencing the behaviour of non-state actors, including armed groups, the Ministers and representatives took note of the recent report of the UN Angola Sanctions Committee, and agreed to support UN efforts to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of sanctions regimes, including those which address the activities of non-state actors.

Ministers and representatives considered the roles of other NSAs, such as the private sector. They acknowledged that the private sector can contribute to promoting security and stability in conflict zones. It was agreed that the Human Security Network would promote, together and on a national basis, dialogue between the private sector, humanitarian organisations and interested governments in order to improve understanding about, and practical options for, how the private sector can contribute to conflict and crises prevention and measures to improve the well-being and security of people.

Ministers and representatives stressed the important responsibilities of states to respect, protect and promote international humanitarian and human rights law, to ensure good governance, and to work in partnership with civil society to ensure both progress and accountability in this regard.

Ministers and representatives recommended that the issue of non-state actors deserves further discussions within the Human Security Network.