The Partnership for Peace Consortium of Defence Academies and Security Studies Institutes (PfPC) has published a new reference handbook designed to support the integration of Human Security considerations into Professional Military Education (PME) across NATO Allies and partner nations.

Edited and published by the Canadian Defence Academy on behalf of the PfPC Human Security in Operations Working Group, the handbook provides a common framework for understanding how military forces can contribute to Human Security while enhancing operational effectiveness, resilience, legitimacy, and mission success.

The publication addresses an identified gap in professional military education by translating NATO's Human Security Approach and Guiding Principles into practical concepts, planning considerations, and military tasks. It presents Human Security as an operational lens through which commanders, staff officers, and military educators can better understand the human environment and the interconnected factors shaping security outcomes in contemporary conflicts and crises.

At the core of the handbook are nine Human Security Factors: Physical, Infrastructure, Political, Economic, Cultural, Health, Food, Information, and Environmental Security. Together, these factors provide a structured framework for identifying vulnerabilities, strengthening resilience, protecting populations, and supporting mission objectives across a broad range of military operations.

A central contribution of the publication is its emphasis on operational applicability. The handbook illustrates how Human Security considerations can enhance situational awareness, inform military planning and decision-making, mitigate operational risks, and support NATO's broader resilience and deterrence efforts. It also provides practical guidance on incorporating these considerations into operational planning, staff functions, risk assessments, and military education.

Developed through multinational collaboration involving experts from NATO, Allied and partner nations, academia, and international organisations, the handbook fosters a shared understanding of Human Security and strengthens intellectual interoperability across the Alliance and its partner community. It is intended for defence academies, staff colleges, PME institutions, commanders, military practitioners, and policymakers preparing military leaders to operate effectively in increasingly complex security environments.

Against a backdrop of intensifying strategic competition, hybrid threats, information manipulation, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and growing challenges to societal resilience, the handbook underscores the importance of understanding and protecting the human environment as an integral element of military effectiveness and strategic advantage.

The publication reflects the PfPC's continued commitment to advancing defence education, fostering interoperability, and supporting NATO's adaptation to evolving security challenges.