While Australia is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, too many people lack security of housing, health and education. First Nations people face greater insecurity with only 4 of the 19 goals in the Closing the Gap strategy currently on target to be achieved. Such insecurity leads to tension within the community and can undermine social cohesion and wellbeing within the broader society.

“For human security, humans come first and then security later,’ says political scientist Dr Donna Weeks, one of six authors in a new book: “Stayin’ Alive: Human security in an age of uncertainty”, published this week by the Australia Peace and Security Forum as the third in the series Peace and Security Quarterly Reports.

A discussion on human security: how is it defined? How important is human security? Why is not considered as a part of peace and security for Australians?

Speakers:

Dr Donna Weeks is Emeritus Professor at Musashino University in Tokyo. She held the position of Director (Dean) of International Relations for six years. A specialist in Japanese politics and Japan-Australia relations, her teaching and research interests include political philosophy and peace studies.

Dr Sue Wareham OAM is President of the Medical Association for Prevention of War (Australia). She has spoken and written widely on matters related to peace and disarmament since the early 1980s. She is currently also the secretary of Australians for War Powers Reform.

Dr Julie Macken has worked as a senior writer with The Australian Financial Review, a political consultant to both Federal Labor and the NSW Greens, held senior positions with Greenpeace, ActionAid and has recently graduated with a doctorate that examined the reasons behind Australia’s abuse and occasional torture of asylum seekers.

Dr Ludmilla Kwitko is Associate Professor (Honorary) at the Gender Institute at the Australian National University, and Asia-Pacific Regional Representative on the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Board. She has extensive experience internationally and as a civil society representative to the committee to develop Australia’s First National Action Plan on WPS.