‘Revisiting Human Security’—the First Issue of the JICA Ogata Research Institute Report ‘Human Security Today’

This inaugural issue, titled “Revisiting Human Security,” discusses the significance of human security today and its implications for development cooperation based on an assessment of current global threats. It also includes a discussion of the history of and prospects for human security research, as well as a dialogue among experts on human security.

The “Topics” section of the issue examines human security during the COVID-19 pandemic from various perspectives, including the impact of the pandemic on the health sector, the changes in the understanding and practice of human security in Africa, and economic analysis related to migrant remittances.

Furthermore, the issue reviews the institute’s research activities for each of its six research clusters from the perspective of human security.

With the publication of this report, the JICA Ogata Research Institute aims to contribute to the creation of a resilient society that protects people’s lives, livelihoods, and dignity by constantly reviewing human security in today’s context.

Core Message From the Report:

Human Security Evolves over Time
-What can the international community do to protect people’s lives, livelihoods, and dignity when it confronts some of the greatest threats ever?-

It has been almost 30 years since the concept of human security was first propounded. Traditional concerns such as armed conflicts, natural disasters, forced migration, and the negative impacts of globalization are becoming more acute. At the same time, new challenges have appeared, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, the bright and dark sides of digital transformation, and aging society. Adopting a human security perspective provides an effective means of grasping and appropriately responding to these global issues. This report will explore the question of how human security should be understood in these fluctuating times and which approaches would work best when implementing it.

（ISSN: 2758-3627）