"Pan-Arab Brainstorming Session"
August 31, 2000
Narrative Report

Held on 31/8/2000, this session had two objectives: first, to introduce the Center regionally and to promote the concept of Human Security. Secondly, to identify the common issues threatening human security in the Region.

The participants expressed their enthusiasm for the Center and pledged to help it grow and prosper. A rather lengthy discussion ensued regarding the vagueness of the concept of human security and the need for its further refinement.

The vagueness of the concept of human security was addressed from two perspectives: First, in terms of a center tackling human security issues, it was feared that the vagueness of the concept would generate a number of issues which can readily fall under "human rights" and "human development". Consequently, the Center would find itself in a position where it cannot really separate itself from other centers addressing human rights and human development issues.

Secondly, in terms of national security, it was feared that the vagueness of the concept would be used as a pretext by Western nations to interfere in Arab countries’ national affairs.

The participants further expressed the need to define human security while paying the utmost attention to the cultural specificity of this concept in the Arab region.

The participants agreed that the issues identified in the local brainstorming session are also a threat to the human security of citizens in their respective countries. Added to those issues were:

• The Arab-Israeli conflict
• Absence of democracy
• Absence of human dignity.
• Sexual abuse.

The participants agreed that threats to human security in the Arab Region should be divided into two broad categories:

• Threats which affect the Region as a whole.
• Internal threats which affect the human security of citizens in the Arab countries.  

Those would be common issues that are shared but whose specific implications can vary from one country to another.