*This article also appears as a chapter in the 2024 KCIS Conference volume that was published in Sept. 2025

Executive summary

Human security is and can no longer be defined by state borders or responded to by military actors alone. Rather, it requires all the actors involved to focus on people who need support: victims of armed conflict, communities facing climate risks, and marginalized populations, including those displaced by humanitarian emergencies who are often overlooked and underserved. An expanded vision of human security also means addressing not only the direct impacts of violence but also the underlying causes of vulnerability: poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, and lack of access to basic services like healthcare and education.

The following discussion highlights considerations for human security from the perspective of the Canadian Red Cross, drawing on its experiences as well as the experiences of the communities it serves.

The first consideration is the need for effective action in supporting communities vulnerable to climate disruption. For example, the lack of water due to ongoing drought across the Horn of Africa, as witnessed firsthand by the Red Cross in its humanitarian work, illustrates all too well the devastating humanitarian consequences of environmental degradation on communities, as well as its impact on peace and security.

The second consideration is the critical issue of protecting and facilitating impartial humanitarian work in the context of evolving conflicts. Humanitarian organizations the Red Cross play an essential role in connecting families, addressing the needs of those displaced by conflict, and educating belligerents about their obligations under International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

The final consideration is the changing nature of conflict dynamics and contemporary challenges in IHL compliance. From the deliberate targeting of healthcare facilities and personnel to the use of indiscriminate weapons in populated areas, the violations of IHL continue to exact a devastating toll on civilians all around the world, especially when hostilities are being waged in urban areas. Another challenge is the emergence of new technologies such as autonomous weapon systems and cyber warfare, including the risk of digital threats or attacks against medical facilities and humanitarian organizations. This reinforces the need for transparent mechanisms in weapons development and deployment, as well as mechanisms for investigating alleged violations.

The perception of security has changed in recent years. Traditional dangers such as those associated with armed conflict, geopolitical tensions and other situations of violence remain real and consequential. But they have been joined by a host of new challenges that cut across borders, challenge institutions, and transcend conventional security frameworks.  

Indeed, it is worth considering the impacts of climate change on displacement of communities or as threats to livelihoods, as well as the rising prevalence of cyber operations that undermine critical infrastructure and erode trust in systems designed to protect and connect us. Pandemics disrupt global health systems, economies, and social systems. These impacts, combined with increasingly challenging conflict dynamics and protracted forced displacement situations with more people on the move than ever before, leave millions in need of basic humanitarian support, including food, water, shelter, protection and healthcare. In an ever-changing and evolving landscape, the need for humanitarian action remains constant.

To better meet humanitarian needs in situations of armed conflict, an expanded vision of what “human security” means is essential. This requires that all parties involved in contributing to human security, namely states and private entities, consider and address not only the direct impacts of violence but also the underlying causes of vulnerability: poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, and lack of access to basic services like healthcare and education.

The Canadian Red Cross is a neutral and impartial humanitarian organization. As a national society member of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, its mandate is anchored both in domestic and international law through the Canadian Act to incorporate the Canadian Red Cross Society,[1] the 1949 Geneva Conventions[2]—which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2024—and their two Additional Protocols.[3] Canadian Red Cross (CRC) does not play a central role in addressing human security, at least when it is understood in the traditional, narrow sense, nor does it have the ability to prevent the outbreak of conflict or stop other situations of violence. Only those who wage wars have the power and the ability to prevent it from happening. However, through its work responding to humanitarian emergencies around the world, and as part of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, it has a unique, and often heartbreaking, perspective on human security in contemporary conflicts and other humanitarian situations. One only needs to look to CRC’s humanitarian efforts in contexts affected by armed conflict as evidence that the international community has failed to achieve human security. The mandate of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is, in part, to work with its respective government and state representatives to ensure respect of IHL, the law which governs all that takes place in armed conflict, from how wars are fought to who is protected.

Each of the issues discussed in this contribution remind us that human security cannot be defined by state boundaries or be responded to by political or military actors alone. Rather, it requires us to focus on people whom it is meant to protect, namely victims of armed conflict, communities facing climate risks, marginalized populations, including those displaced by humanitarian emergencies. At the heart of many of the concepts of human security is the belief that security must be people-centred. While the traditional notion of state security has been about the protection of sovereignty, human security is about the protection of individuals and communities from threats that impact their everyday lives. In other words, human security is about humanity.

Climate crisis and human security

The need for effective action in supporting communities vulnerable to climate disruption should be a main point of focus. The Red Cross works all around the world and sees firsthand the devastating humanitarian consequences of environmental degradation on communities as well as on peace and security. Rising temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns threaten food security, displace communities, and increase competition for limited resources. People living in conflict zones are disproportionately affected by climate shocks and environmental degradation. This includes an estimated 66 million people[4] living outside regular governance systems in areas controlled by non-state armed groups. Conflict magnifies the fragility of institutions, essential services and infrastructure like healthcare and hospitals. The compounding impact of conflict and climate change affects livelihoods and access to basic necessities. Take for example the ongoing drought across the Horn of Africa: the impacts of the lack of water has severe consequences for millions of people, including on livelihoods, and resulting mass migration has led to an increase in malnutrition. Humanitarians working in this region see the direct impacts every day. In Somalia, pastoralists are seeing their livestock dying off after repeated seasons of drought. Without livestock as an income source, families are not able to make ends meet and their children become malnourished and protection concerns escalate. The Canadian Red Cross is supporting the Somali Red Crescent Society by working together so that these families can receive essential aid.[5] Nevertheless, humanitarian responses to these mega-threats are mere band aids on situations which require political will in order to meaningfully prevent and respond to such crises. Humanitarian assistance was not created as a long-term solution.

In carrying out this work, the Canadian Red Cross and the Movement as a whole has adapted and learned that resilience efforts, particularly in fragile states, must be conflict-sensitive. Greater investment in preventive and anticipatory action helps limit the combined humanitarian impact of climate change and armed conflict. Approaching these issues with only a strict security lens and not a human security lens limits the response and ultimately results in more loss of life, injury, and preventable suffering.

Protection of the humanitarian space

Humanitarian space is not a theoretical idea; the obligation to protect it is enshrined in law. In 2024, the United Nations estimated that a staggering 300 million people required humanitarian assistance,[6] more than double the figure from just five years ago. This number reflects not only immediate needs but also highlights the essential role that humanitarian organizations, both local and international, play in addressing the needs of those displaced by conflict. It also emphasizes the role of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement as a whole in educating belligerents about their obligations under International Humanitarian Law when operating in the context of an armed conflict 

Still, even with a comprehensive legal framework around it, humanitarian aid is routinely prevented from reaching populations in need and humanitarian efforts are increasingly obstructed, marking a disturbing trend in global conflicts. Such acts of obstructionism and the general politicization of aid delivery flouts the legal right to humanitarian assistance and has dire humanitarian consequences. Access to affected populations is often blocked, and the safety of humanitarian personnel is threatened on a daily basis. The last two years have been the deadliest on record for humanitarians; in 2024 alone, and just in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, close to forty staff members and volunteers lost their lives in the line of duty.[7]

Additionally, the complex landscape of sanctions and counterterrorism measures complicates humanitarian work, undermining IHL provisions that states wrote and signed onto that guarantee humanitarian access. Despite some progress, significant hurdles remain. Many sanctions and counter-terrorism efforts still lack adequate humanitarian exemptions, and inconsistency in their interpretation and application hinders humanitarian action. It is crucial to recognize that international law protects humanitarian organizations from intentional harm, including direct attack and criminalization. A more forceful and coherent international response is necessary: states, both parties to armed conflict and third parties, must collaborate to safeguard impartial humanitarian efforts to ensure that they can continue to operate effectively.

In its international operations, CRC’s first priority is to create a safe and secure space for the teams to deliver neutral, impartial, and independent humanitarian aid in an increasingly complex and unpredictable international environment. When humanitarian crises occur, Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers are often first on the scene, delivering life-saving humanitarian aid. Tragically, and all too often, humanitarian workers face unimaginable risks. It bears repeating that the last two years have been the deadliest on record for humanitarians.

This cannot continue to happen, and parties to conflict and authorities at all levels of government must respect the humanitarian mandate and help guarantee the safety of all humanitarian aid workers operating in these environments.

Contemporary challenges in IHL compliance

To conclude, compliance with the international rules that apply in armed conflict is critically important to the Canadian Red Cross and the whole Movement, as it is meant to guarantee the protection of those who do not, or no longer, participate in hostilities. It ensures that civilians, prisoners of war, the wounded, whether a civilian or a combatant, and all other protected persons are treated humanely and with dignity. It establishes clear rules governing the conduct of hostilities in war and creates legal obligations to minimize harm to non-combatants.

Despite the importance of IHL as well as the universal legal endorsement of the Geneva Conventions, its actualization is confronted with a myriad of contemporary challenges as a result of parties to armed conflict as well as states who have signed onto the treaties disregarding their responsibility to implement IHL. From the deliberate targeting of healthcare facilities and personnel to the use of weapons with indiscriminate effects in populated areas, violations of IHL continue to exact a devastating toll on civilians all around the world. Hinging on strong universal political will, IHL remains a uniquely powerful tool for mitigating the human cost of armed conflict—if and when it is respected. Indeed, the humanitarian sector continues to witness failures to comply with IHL by both state and non-state actors. Ensuring accountability for violations remains a significant challenge, despite efforts to promote justice and accountability.

The increasing prevalence of conflicts in urban areas presents a major ongoing challenge, as urban warfare often leads to severe humanitarian consequences due to its impact on civilian populations and infrastructure. The Red Cross sees firsthand the immense suffering that war in cities brings, such as the devastating outcomes of urban warfare in recent conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan, and Gaza, among others. Within the past year, two Palestinian Red Crescent Society-run hospitals have been forced to close after heavy fighting and failures to protect these facilities. The closure of these hospitals has resulted in thousands unable to access care and the tragic loss of life of patients.

In response to growing needs, the Canadian Red Cross, alongside other Movement partners supported the opening of a field hospital in Rafah. Since opening, staff and volunteers have seen increasing admissions due to the ongoing conflict and collapse of the Gazan healthcare system. While humanitarian interventions such as this provide lifesaving and essential services, the existing healthcare system in Gaza should have been protected by all parties to the conflict. The reality is that humanitarian organizations will never keep pace with the devastating consequences of urban warfare, nor were they ever designed to.

Another challenge to the application and enforcement of IHL in contemporary armed conflict is the emergence of new technologies such as autonomous weapon systems and advances in cyber warfare. Under IHL, new weapons or methods of warfare must be capable of distinguishing between combatants and civilians to limit collateral damage. The Red Cross is particularly concerned about the risk of digital threats and attacks against medical facilities and humanitarian organizations. As digitalization increases, medical facilities are more vulnerable to cyber operations or secondary harm from cyber threats. These threats are heightened during conflict or natural disaster. Mechanisms for accountability and oversight must be established to monitor the use of new technologies in armed conflict and hold perpetrators responsible for violations of IHL.

The international environment is marked by challenges, and the concept of human security remains critical. In a world where traditional definitions of state security once dominated, it is now imperative to recognize the broader dimensions of what it means to truly ensure human security. The path to ensuring human security is not an easy one. It requires commitment, coordination, and compassion. But it is a path that must be taken to continue to build a world where people are supported and treated with humanity.

Human security, at its core, is about safeguarding the well-being, dignity, and rights of individuals. Given this complexity, any approach to human security needs to be holistic and co-ordinated. No single actor, be it government, civil society, or international organization, can address these challenges alone. There is a need for collaboration across sectors and disciplines to ensure efforts are comprehensive. This is where humanitarian organizations play an essential role: humanitarians work at the intersection of crises, from armed conflict to natural disasters, and are uniquely positioned to address the many dimensions of human security.

In doing so, the response must be community-centred, with a focus on building resilience. It is not enough to provide immediate relief. Investment in long-term solutions that strengthen the capacities of all communities to withstand future shocks, whether from conflict, climate, or health emergencies, is urgently needed. Furthermore, international policies that reflect the needs of the most vulnerable are necessary so that their voices are heard amongst lawmakers.

More importantly, the Red Cross and Red Crescent continues to encourage all parties to conflict to uphold their commitment to IHL. Actual compliance with IHL, by both state and non-state actors, is rarely acknowledged as it often does not make the frontline news when, for example, lives are saved, and hospitals are not bombed. And yet, this happens on an almost daily basis. Compliance with IHL by all parties to a conflict enhances the safety and security of humanitarian personnel and contributes to the effectiveness of humanitarian operations. It enables humanitarian actors to reach communities in need and to provide vital aid. In times of armed conflict, the rules that protect civilians, medical workers, and aid organizations are essential for preserving human security. These principles are not negotiable; they are the foundation of our shared humanity. The challenges they face are not isolated, they are intertwined, and so solutions, too, must be interconnected. Together, the world can advance toward a time when human security is not just an aspiration, but a reality.