The purpose of the conference series is to explore the concept and approaches to Human Security with its new challenges and perspectives in the context of Turkey. 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 conference series will provide a forum to explore how the subject of human security is perceived in Turkey at academic, policy and practical levels in terms of difficulties faced and responses designed and undertaken. At these international conferences, 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 first of these conferences is being organised jointly by Coventry University, Kadir Has University, Akdeniz University and Trakya University in Ýstanbul on 27-28 October 2011.

Thematic Areas for Papers

1. State Centred Security
National Security: historical challenges and new perspectives
Turkey’s Role in International Security
Countering Terrorism
State-Civil Society Relationships

2. Politics of Human Security
Democratic Governance
Positive Discrimination: needs and responses
Poverty Reduction and Regional Inequalities
Protection of Minority Rights

3. Peace and Conflict
Conflict and Social Dialogue
Local Action Against Conflict
Women, Peace and Security
Youth in Armed Conflict and Peacebuilding
Media, Conflict and Peace

4. Reconstruction and Development Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons Disaster Risk Reduction Sport for Development and Peace Culture of Peace and Justice Humanitarian Mine Action

5. Environment
Natural Resources and Environmental Protection
Climate Change Adaptation
Urbanisation: Challenges and Opportunities
Protection of Cultural Heritage

6. Socio-Cultural Dimensions
Education Rights and Provisions
Religion in Peacebuilding
Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
Public Health: Policies and Consequences
Rights and Discrimination: Gender, Age, Sexuality

7. International Context
Human Security in European Union Membership Process
Improving Human Security: International Experiences

LANGUAGE of the CONFERENCE: English (if participants prefer they can present their papers in Turkish but are requested to provide a brief handout or power point presentation summarizing the main points in English)

CONFERENCE CALENDAR
* Deadline of Abstract Submission : April 29, 2011

* Notification of Acceptance : May 30, 2011
* Deadline of Full-paper Submission : July 29, 2011

PUBLISHING
* 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.

Early registration option is valid until September 16, 2011. Thereafter, the Full Registration rate will be applied. For the registration fee, please visit the Conference website.