ABSTRACT
This chapter examines whether human security could appropriately be considered an authoritative interpretation of 'international peace and security' within the United Nations (UN) Charter. It begins by examining the UN Charter through the lens of human security discourse, and through an analysis of how 'security' is used in the Charter. The Preamble to the UN Charter establishes the goals of the UN to promote and protect international peace and security; to promote economic and social progress and improve standards of living; and to promote justice, respect human dignity and reaffirm universal human rights. Early recognition of the need for a broader, people-centered approach to security can be traced back to at least as early as the Brandt Commission in 1980. The Security Council condemnation of the Apartheid regime in South Africa is often cited as one of the first examples of recognition that human rights violations can constitute threats to international peace and security.
