REDEFINING HUMAN SECURITY CONCERNS: NEW MEDIA AND SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY

1. REDEFINING HUMAN SECURITY CONCERNS: NEW MEDIA AND SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY Engaging the next generation of leaders

2. The Emerging Power of Social Media • Social networking tools serve as an equalizer and have a multiplier effect with the opportunity to give a voice to anyone with a cell phone or internet connection • Access- this is the key word for the impact of new tools– although access doesn’t necessitate participation– such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr • Important to remember that these are tools that require mobilization in order to be effective

3. Web 2.0: Impact of Social Media Tools • Iranian election protests 2009- US State Department urges Twitter to delay maintenance • Arab Spring- “Channels of facilitation” or “Causal relationship”? • Egyptian Army on Facebook • Wael Ghonim of Google • Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi demands access to social media • 1500 bloggers, 500 blog regularly • New record: 3000 tweets per second – Osama bin Laden

4. Ushahidi: ‘Testimony’ • Began as a program developed to record acts of violence in Kenya during the post-election 2008 fallout • Allows individuals to send reports via SMS message and website • Implementation cases • India • DRC • Zambia • Philippines • Haiti

5. The Importance of Linkages • Human security as a cohesive and porous concept: disarmament, protection of civilians, and women’s participation • Synergistic relationship • Small arms as an instigator of and instrument for perpetration of mass atrocities • Dearth of gender-focused DDR programs in post-conflict societies • Identifying women’s participation as crucial to all peace processes • Utilizing social networking tools to provide the platform and facilitate discussion of such linkages

6. Disarmament DialoguesA Case Study • Engaging youth to discuss and re-define human security concerns, with a focus on disarmament, in light of the shift in security concerns and architecture • Opportunities for linkages and interaction • Seeking to secure a place for disarmament on the international agenda that is relevant, contemporary, and effective • Provide “insider” information in the hopes of educating, but also seeking to engage using tools that are, in large part, already mainstream

7. Diversity of Audience • New York UN missions • Government officials/MPs • Human rights activists • UN agencies • NGOs • Students • Private sector practitioners

8. Tweeting and Engaging on Wide-ranging Issues @DisarmDialogues Finally - some common sense from a gov! RT @TIME Japan has decided to stop building new nuclear plants ti.me/kzHQq6 @DisarmDialogues penalties and sanctions? Do they mention how the proceeds from those are used? One possible way - #victimassistance. RT @DisarmDialogues: Challenges of making marking of #smallarms a uniform process discussion @UN meeting - what about using the #armstreaty? @DisarmDialogues Discutiendo en la #ONU cómo los países marcan las #armas ligeras desde importación hasta exportación y esfuerzos de desarme @DisarmDialogues Can anyone argue a positive impact of the Conference of Disarmament in the last 15 years? Which future for the CD? Reform?

9. Critical Questions • How can social media and technologies be used to engage youth in addressing pressing human security concerns? • What are some of the challenges and dangers facing users of these tools? • In addition to early-warning mechanisms, how do you think these tools can be used as conversation starters among the next generation of policy stakeholders? • How can social media tools help to not just pass on this work to young practitioners, but also appropriately re-define it for their generation?

10. Join the Conversation! • Twitter: @DisarmDialogues • Facebook Page: • Disarmament Dialogues Contact: Katherine Prizeman katherine@globalactionpw.org