2011 Inaugural Conference at Doshisha Unviersity
Inaugural Conference of Japan Association for Human Security Studies Report
In commemorating the establishment of Japan Association for Human Security Studies (JAHSS), Japan Consortium for Human Security Education and Research and Doshisha University co-organised the Inaugural Conference of the Association on 17-19 September 2011. More than 170 participants came together not only from within Japan but also from other parts of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
The first part of the Conference was held on 17 September and it consisted of four academic events. First, we welcomed Professor Yukio Takasu as a Keynote Speaker. In his lecture, he raised ten points he is expecting from the new Association based upon his rich experiences and knowledge as Special Advisor on Human Security to the UN Secretary-General and former Japanese Ambassador to the United Nations. He was officially appointed as Vice President of JAHSS in the Inaugural Assembly which took place in the evening of the same day.
Next, two Panel Discussions were organised. In the Panel Discussion 1, three panellists discussed various dimensions of Human Security, namely on its relation with the future of Islam by Professor Mustapha Kamal Pasha from the UK, on food security in developing countries by Professor Chantana Wungaeo from Thailand, and on its discourse and practice by Professor Des Gasper from the Netherlands. Professor Takasu also joined them during the general discussion to make a further exchange of views on each dimension.
The Panel Discussion 2 was dedicated to Tohoku University and Professor Dinil Pushpalal of the said university organised a special session in which four young students and researchers revealed their firsthand experiences on the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011.
Lastly, JAHSS students’ league took the initiative in organising a poster session in the same evening. 24 presenters displayed very detailed and elaborated posters which aroused interests and fruitful dialogue among the audience.
The second part of the Conference was academic presentations by young researchers held on 18-19 September. Several sub-themes were created according to each expertise and research field, which included post-conflict and post-disaster reconstruction, sustainable cities, resource management, protecting "people on the move", gender, education, health, reconceptualising human security, economic development, and well-being. A total of 48 young researches participated as presenters and free and lively discussions were expanded throughout two days.