The Vision of Human Security Two examples clearly highlight the impact of transnational threats. The first is the terrorist attack of 9/11 in New York which led to the invasion of Afghanistan by the US armed forces. The second is the global spread of COVID-19, the communicable disease. More recently, the Russia-Ukraine war has led to a global upsurge in commodity prices and a slowdown of the world economy. 1.2 Human Development and Human Security The human development concept is concerned first with building human capabilities through investment in people and, secondly, using those capabilities fully through an enabling environment for growth and employment, Mahbub ul Haq asserted that for human development to take place, economic growth is essential. But equal attention must be given to the quality of economic growth and its distribution. The links between growth and human development have to be created through investment in education, health, skill development, job creation, women’s empowerment, and equitable distribution of assets, as well as through social safety nets and political and cultural freedom. While all of these components of human development reduce people’s depreciation and enhance their capability and opportunity in society, the last three–social safety nets, political and cultural freedom–have the additional advantage of protecting people from‘downside risks’, thus highlighting the critical connection between the concepts of human development and human security. 1.3 Human Rights and Human Security The link between human rights and human security is equally strong. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Declaration on the Right to Development assert that civil and political rights, as well as economic, social, and cultural rights, constitute an integral part of human rights. Together these two documents form the foundation for ‘human rights and fundamental freedoms that are the birthright of all human beings; their protection and promotion is the first responsibility of government.’ Under the overall umbrella of human rights, human development can enrich peoples’ lives, while human security can protect those in need. And when all three concepts come together to promote, protect, and reduce risks of conflicts, downturns, and devastation, the potential for achieving peace is enhanced. 5