Who gets to participate in security? Views on localisation and bottom-up implementation of human rights in human security from the example of civilian CSDP missions

Abstract

The study explores how civilian European Union Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions, using the EU Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM) as an example study, implement human rights from the bottom up, as part of the human security paradigm. Based on qualitative research through Key Individual Interviews (KIIs) and document analysis, the study explores the relationship between the EU’s policies and implementing realities on the ground. This includes insights from policy-makers and human rights and gender advisers applying policies around challenges faced in implementing human rights in a bottom-up approach. Adopting an interdisciplinary focus combining international law, human rights, security sector reform (SSR), and policy analysis, the study seeks to illustrate the role of localisation in CSDP mission planning and implementation. Aspects covering management, key concepts, mandate, context sensitivity, information and knowledge sharing, as well as training, are viewed through the lens of the localisation of human rights. The research argues that civilian CSDP missions have the tools to apply human rights from the bottom up, as an integrated part of SSR and human security, in addition to state security support. Instead, top-down procedures are prevailing features, that occasionally counter EU values, democratisation and sustainable stabilisation.