Recent security discussions have shifted focus from protecting nations to protecting individuals, a change that offers clear lessons for anyone traveling abroad or moving through unfamiliar cities. From panic buttons for politicians to campus emergency texts, experts outline actionable situational awareness tactics travelers can use to protect themselves in new environments.
From State Security to Human Security
The modern approach to safety challenges the traditional notion of national security by arguing that the proper referent for security should be at the human rather than the national level. This concept emerged from a multi-disciplinary understanding of security which involves research fields including development studies, international relations, strategic studies, and human rights.
The United Nations Development Programme’s 1994 Human Development Report is considered a milestone publication in the field of human security. It argued that ensuring freedom from want and freedom from fear for all persons is the best path to tackle the problem of global insecurity. This framework suggests that a people-centered view of security is necessary for national, regional and global stability.
Critics of the concept argue that its vagueness undermines its effectiveness, and that it has become little more than a vehicle for activists wishing to promote certain causes. Alternatively, other scholars have argued that the concept of human security should be broadened to encompass military security directly. In other words, if this thing called human security has the concept of the human embedded at the heart of it, then let us address the question of the human condition directly.
In order for human security to challenge global inequalities, there has to be cooperation between a country’s foreign policy and its approach to global health. However, the interest of the state has continued to overshadow the interest of the people in many instances.
Protecting Parliamentarians with Panic Buttons
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged a swift government response to threats to the safety of parliamentarians and their office staff. Among the options being considered by the authorities are panic buttons in MPs’ electorate offices, which could be used to notify law enforcement of incidents.
Albanese made the statement at a meeting of the Labor Party’s parliamentary caucus. He said MPs had been forced to put up with threats for too long and that the government needed to do more to protect them and ensure the safety of their staff.
According to The Guardian, the government is considering a number of possible changes including strengthening protection for electorate offices, improving communication with the federal police, and providing resources for the security of MPs’ private homes. These measures include surveillance cameras and lighting.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke told party colleagues that the government was also examining security at polling stations during elections. Security issues have been discussed more actively following the alleged attack on Indi electorate MP Helen Haines last week.
Parliamentarians from different political forces said additional protection for offices was needed amid threats and violence against their staff. They also reported abuse and threats, including death and rape threats, online and offline.
Staff Exhaustion and the Cost of Independence
Senator Fatima Payman, who left the Labor Party in 2024 and became an independent, criticized her former party colleagues over a lack of staff in her office. According to her, her employees are exhausted.
According to an internal document submitted at a Senate hearing, Payman has no advisers, while 16 independent MPs and senators collectively have 30 advisers. Payman also said that the number of death threats and hateful comments had increased significantly after she left the Labor Party.
She said that last year her chief of staff opened a mail item containing human feces, after which biosecurity specialists were called to the scene. These incidents highlight how personal safety for individuals can become a matter of state concern when political dynamics shift.
Critics argue human security concepts can be vague, while others say it should encompass military security directly. Canada’s foreign policy three Ds has been criticized for emphasizing defense more than development in global health contexts. This imbalance illustrates how the interest of the state has continued to overshadow the interest of the people.
Actionable Tips for Travelers and Students
University Police Department specialists train students on personal safety and active assailant training before emergencies occur. For students facing an immediate emergency, Eifert recommends calling 911. When someone calls, a dispatcher receives the call and uses the phone’s location information to help identify where the person may be.
Dispatchers then communicate with officers over the radio so they can respond to the situation. Students who cannot safely speak on the phone can also text 911. However, Eifert said text messages do not provide dispatchers with location information in the same way a phone call does.
Students should clearly describe their surroundings when reporting an incident. The department also works with the Office of Student Conduct and crisis intervention professionals, along with community organizations that provide mental health and housing assistance. These partnerships allow officers to connect students with support that extends beyond law enforcement.
Practical Steps for Personal Belongings
Campus safety includes taking practical steps to protect personal belongings, particularly bicycles, electric bikes and electric scooters. Students should register their bikes with the university to ensure faster recovery if stolen. While technology like panic buttons protects politicians, simple registration systems protect students.
The practical upshot is that security measures must be tailored to the specific risks faced by different groups. Whether it is an MP needing a panic button or a student needing bike registration, the goal remains the same: protecting the individual from becoming a target of crime. By understanding these mechanisms, travelers and students alike can better navigate their environments.
Sources
- Human security
- University Police Department provides tips for campus safety
- Albanese pledges response to threats to MPs’ safety — The Guardian
Photo: Omar Roque / Unsplash (Unsplash License)
