NEW MEDIA AND SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY REDEFINING HUMAN SECURITY CONCERNS: NEW MEDIA AND SOCIAL TECHNOLOGY Engaging the next generation of leaders

The Emerging Power of Social Media Social networking tools serve as an equalizer and have a multiplier effect with the opportunity to give a voice to anyone with a cell phone or internet connection Access- this is the key word for the impact of new tools– although access doesn’t necessitate participation– such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr Important to remember that these are tools that require mobilization in order to be effective

Web 2.0: Impact of Social Media Tools  Iranian election protests US State Department urges Twitter to delay maintenance  Arab Spring- “Channels of facilitation” or “Causal relationship”?  Egyptian Army on Facebook Egyptian Army on Facebook  Wael Ghonim of Google Wael Ghonim of Google  Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi demands access to social media  1500 bloggers, 500 blog regularly  New record: 3000 tweets per second – Osama bin Laden

Ushahidi: ‘Testimony’ Began as a program developed to record acts of violence in Kenya during the post-election 2008 fallout Allows individuals to send reports via SMS message and website Implementation cases India DRC Zambia Philippines Haiti

The Importance of Linkages  Human security as a cohesive and porous concept: disarmament, protection of civilians, and women’s participation  Synergistic relationship  Small arms as an instigator of and instrument for perpetration of mass atrocities  Dearth of gender-focused DDR programs in post-conflict societies  Identifying women’s participation as crucial to all peace processes  Utilizing social networking tools to provide the platform and facilitate discussion of such linkages

Disarmament Dialogues Disarmament Dialogues A Case Study  Engaging youth to discuss and re-define human security concerns, with a focus on disarmament, in light of the shift in security concerns and architecture  Opportunities for linkages and interaction  Seeking to secure a place for disarmament on the international agenda that is relevant, contemporary, and effective  Provide “insider” information in the hopes of educating, but also seeking to engage using tools that are, in large part, already mainstream

Diversity of Audience  New York UN missions  Government officials/MPs  Human rights activists  UN agencies  NGOs  Students  Private sector practitioners

Tweeting and Engaging on Wide-ranging Issues Finally - some common sense from a gov! Japan has decided to stop new nuclear plants ti.me/kzHQq6ti.me/kzHQq6 penalties and sanctions? Do they mention how the proceeds from those are used? One possible way - #victimassistance.#victimassistance Challenges of making marking of a uniform process meeting - what about the #armstreaty?#armstreaty Discutiendo en la #ONU cómo los países marcan las #armas ligeras desde importación hasta exportación y esfuerzos de desarme#ONU#armas Can anyone argue a positive impact of the Conference of Disarmament in the last 15 years? Which future for the CD? Reform?

Critical Questions  How can social media and technologies be used to engage youth in addressing pressing human security concerns?  What are some of the challenges and dangers facing users of these tools?  In addition to early-warning mechanisms, how do you think these tools can be used as conversation starters among the next generation of policy stakeholders?  How can social media tools help to not just pass on this work to young practitioners, but also appropriately re-define it for their generation?

Join the Conversation!   Facebook Page:  Disarmament Dialogues Contact: Katherine Prizeman