2026 Human Security Awards” Ceremony

 

On 22 June 2026, the “2026 Human Security Awards” ceremony was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York.
 
 The “Human Security Awards” are a new initiative launched by the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends of Human Security; namely, the Permanent Representatives of Japan, Costa Rica, and Senegal to the United Nations, with the aim of deepening public understanding of the benefits of human security, further raising its profile, and promoting its practical implementation worldwide. The awards recognize the achievements of projects implemented by UN agencies around the world that notably embody the values of human security.
 
 At the award ceremony, H.E. Mr. Kazuyuki Yamazaki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, opened the event by emphasizing the significance and importance of human security and explaining the purpose behind the establishment of the awards. He also highlighted that a common feature of the winning projects was their remarkable embodiment of the essence of human security, including the protection and empowerment of individuals and contributions to the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.
 
In addition, H.E. Mr. Alexander De Croo, Administrator of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) (participating online) and H.E. Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), delivered keynote speeches. They emphasized the role of human security in the activities of their respective organizations, expressed their appreciation for Japan’s contributions to promoting human security, welcomed the establishment of the awards, and commended the achievements of the winning projects.
 
Furthermore, H.E. Ms. ERI Arfiya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, delivered a guest speech. She welcomed the initiative by the Group of Friends of Human Security and expressed her hope that human dignity would be ensured through a deeper understanding of human security and the expansion of its effective implementation. She also stated the government of Japan’s intention to promote the co-creation of solutions in cooperation with various countries, international organizations, civil society, and the business sector, and to steadfastly uphold universal values while exercising “quiet leadership.”
 
 Following this, the Co-Chairs of the Group of Friends announced the winners of the “2026 Human Security Awards” and representatives of the implementing organizations of the following six projects received commemorative trophies (Note: Listed in alphabetical order by beneficiary country).
 
“Capacities for Peace, Security, and Violence Reduction in Ecuador”

• Beneficiary country: Ecuador
• Implementing agencies: UNDP, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UN-Women

 
This project implements community-level capacity-building initiatives, such as seminars involving women and youth, in order to shift the approach to violence from “repression” to “prevention” through a people-centered perspective.
 
“Fostering Reforestation, Environmental Sustainability and Tourism in the Okyeman Area (FOREST Okyeman): Accelerating the SDGs through a multi-stakeholder, community-based approach to sustainable livelihoods and wellbeing”

• Beneficiary country: Ghana
• Implementing agencies: UNDP, UNICEF, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), World Health Organization (WHO)

 
This project carries out capacity-building activities to support afforestation, strengthen resource management, and promote environmental protection.
 
“Anticipatory Flood Response in Eastern Nepal”

• Beneficiary country: Nepal
• Implementing agencies: United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

 
This project promotes early action in flood response and supports vulnerable households in securing food, livelihoods, maternal and child health, safety, and dignity.
 
“Pacific Climate Change Migration and Human Security (PCCMHS) Program”

• Beneficiary countries: Pacific Island nations
• Implementing agencies: International Organization for Migration (IOM), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), International Labor Organization (ILO), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

 
This project applies a human security approach and supports capacity-building in forecasting and planning for the planned relocation of communities affected by climate change.
 
“Enhancing human security in priority municipalities in Senegal border regions with the security, climate change and migration nexus”

• Beneficiary country: Senegal
• Implementing agencies: UNDP, IOM, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

 
This project analyzes the risks posed to people’s lives by climate change, human mobility, security policies, and other factors, and promotes initiatives to address them.
 
“Implementing area-based return support as a catalytic process, for resilient recovery, human security, and durable solutions in the multifaceted crisis of Syria”

• Beneficiary country: Syria
• Implementing agencies: UNDP, UNHCR

 
The project provides legal assistance and capacity-building for returnees in Aleppo and develops local recovery plans.
 
 Following this, a roundtable discussion was held with representatives from the award-winning projects, during which there was a lively exchange of views on how each project incorporated the human security perspective and what impacts they had achieved.
 
 The award ceremony was attended by a large number of participants from UN Member States and international organizations. Footage of the event is available via the following link (UN Web TV). https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15/k15en25cbr
 
 The establishment of the “Human Security Awards” is expected to be a major step toward further raising global awareness of this concept and promoting its wider adoption. Japan intends to continue its efforts to further mainstream human security, including through the ongoing promotion of this initiative.