Linkage between disarmament and human and global security

Abstract

Abstract This chapter analyses the linkage between disarmament and global security. Traditional notion of security has changed dramatically in the 21st century. The attention of the world community has shifted from the security of the state to the security of the people. When the idea of an independent Commission for Human Security was launched at the 2000 UN Millennium Summit, there was a general agreement on the importance of ensuring freedom from want and freedom from fear. There is a new breed of threats to human and ecological security in the form of terrorist attacks and they may acquire nuclear weapons. Nuclear terrorism is a grave threat to global security. There is also a fear that the existing UN mechanism to halt nuclear arms race and proliferation of nuclear weapons is inadequate as all countries have not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and the division between nuclear haves and nuclear have-nots is a major hurdle in the creation of the nuclear non-proliferation regime.