Human Security Challenges in Nepal

Abstract

The idea of security has changed notably since the Cold War, with a notable shift towards human security as detailed in the UNDP's 1994 Human Development Report. Human security emphasizes protecting individual freedoms and dignity, prioritizing a people-centered perspective. Globalization, especially post-Cold War, had a profound impact on less developed countries like Nepal, affecting conditions related to human security. Nepal's human security has been further jeopardized by internal conflicts and natural disasters such as the devastating earthquake in 2015. Regional organizations like SAARC have historically focused more on arms control rather than prioritizing human security. The 21st century has brought heightened global risks such as terrorism, poverty, internal conflicts, and natural disasters, posing significant challenges to human security globally. Nepal, classified by the UNDP as highly vulnerable to climate change with limited capacities to cope with disasters due to economic constraints, faces heightened insecurity among its population. Despite these global challenges and threats from various sources, international efforts to promote human security have been limited. Enhancing human security requires placing individuals at the center of coordinated efforts involving both state and non-governmental actors, particularly under the leadership of the United Nations through collective measures. Amid ongoing disputes in the extent of effectiveness of the protection of human, it has got a growing recognition has turned out as the conventional focus on state sovereignty and independence is insufficient in addressing modern global risks. The international community is grappling with the need to develop new strategies to protect people from transnational dangers in an increasingly interconnected world. This shift towards promoting human security acknowledges that contemporary threats, which impact lives more profoundly than traditional military challenges between states, extend beyond national boundaries and military concerns.