The Centre for Peace and Reconciliation Studies (CPRS) at Coventry University is home to an innovative research group, CPRS Turkey, that seeks to explore a wide range of conflict and peace related matters with a specific reference to Turkey. One of CPRS Turkey’s primary objectives is to organise an annual conference series called “Istanbul Human Security Conference”.

Human security is a people-centred approach to global security which recognises that lasting peace and social justice cannot be achieved unless people are protected from threats to their rights and basic needs. Among the main human security threats are: violence and abuse of human rights; corruption and bad governance; disasters and climate change; and poverty and poor access to basic services. Therefore, the purpose of the conference series is to explore the concept and approaches to human security and focussing on the theme of ‘new challenges and new perspectives’ in 2011, the 2nd Istanbul Human Security Conference will explore recent human security risks, threats and crises that have been affecting different parts of the world.

In general, the conference series provides a forum to explore how the subject of human security is perceived at academic, policy and practical levels in terms of difficulties faced and responses designed and undertaken. Furthermore, Turkey’s human security challenges will be investigated in comparison to international experiences to create and accomplish a wide, active and innovative network of individuals and institutions working on peace and security related issues in Turkey and abroad.

The 2nd Istanbul Human Security Conference is being organised jointly by Coventry University, Kadir Has University, Middle East Technical University and Abant Ä°zzet Baysal University on 18-19 October 2012.

To present a paper at the conference, a 500 word abstract should be sent to the Conference General Coordinator (fusunozerdem@yahoo.com) by 31 May 2012. The conference is also open to non-paper presenters and we would encourage participation from non-academic sectors such as civil society, private sector, national authorities and the media.

Istanbul Conference: Human Security: threats, risks and crises

Language of the conference: English and Turkish

Conference Proceedings
•Publication of 16-18 papers as a ‘Human Security in Turkey’ special issue of the online Journal of Conflict Transformation and Security
•Publication of an edited book in English, including selected 12-14 papers with a reknown publisher in the UK is also planned.

Thematic Areas for Paper:
Environmental and Physical
•Natural and human-made disasters
•Hunger
•Climate change
•Displacement
•Landmines

Politics and Governance
•Failed states
•Popular discontent: uprisings, protests
•Non-violent resistance
•Human rights abuses
•Accountability and Transparency

Security and Peacebuilding
•Civil conflict
•Terrorism
•Post-conflict reconstruction
•Security sector reform
•Disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration
•Police reform

Economic
•Economic instabilities
•Unemployment
•Widening wealth gap
•Exploitation of populations and natural resources
•Energy

Socio-cultural
•Inequality
•Discrimination
•Exclusion
•Failures in education, health and welfare services
•Domestic violence

International Relations
•Inter-state wars
•Military interventions
•'Responsibility to Protect'
•Humanitarianism
•Changing economic and political dynamics
•International organisations
•Nuclear Power and Nuclear Weapons