The necessary integration between political and personal security

A critical discourse on security is more complex than ever and requires a multilevel approach able to integrate all its deeply interconnected dimensions. The seemingly – but distant – notions of political and personal security are expressions of the same security paradigm, in which Stability Police Units (SPUs) and targeted policies play a leading role.

Political security represents the valorization of the individual within any political regime that doesn’t resort to violence, discrimination, or arbitrary and illegal limitations on individual freedoms. However, this theoretical framework clearly distances itself from reality, which is marked by the daily violation of human rights – especially in contexts of political instability, transitions to illiberal or military regimes, erosion of the judicial system, and authoritarian practices by private companies. Confirming this, Amnesty International's latest report[1] highlights how the persistence of armed conflicts and low trust in institutions fuel the vicious cycle of humanitarian crises and political failures. The inverse relationship between political insecurity and personal security is evident. Personal security concerns the complete freedom of human beings from any form of dehumanization and threats to their physical and moral integrity. These include pressure from state and non-state actors, crime and exploitation, psychological, physical, and gender-based violence, child abuse, and human trafficking.

This latter phenomenon was a central focus of study during the International Conference "Policing Approaches to Human Security," held from the 24th to the 26th of June, at the Center of Excellence for Stability Police Units (CoESPU).

Ranking as the second most widespread illegal economy in the world, human trafficking occurs when three voluntary and intentional circumstances occur: the recruitment and transfer of victims, followed by coercion and abuse of power to tamper with their consent, ultimately resulting in exploitation[2]. The underlying purpose of the practice lies precisely in the aim of profiting from the individual through a series of crimes, the most common of which are sexual exploitation, forced labor, induction into organized crime, organ harvesting and sale, and slavery. No region is exempt from the trade, however, there are key hubs, especially in Asia – characterized by the tragic involvement of minors –, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Following a temporary decline during the Covid-19 pandemic, the scale of trafficking, as detected globally, has increased exponentially. In 2022, the International Labour Organization estimated that 27.6 million people were subjected to forced labor, 15.1 million of whom were in Asia and the Pacific[3]. In 2023, there were an estimated 10,793 victims in the European Union alone, 63% of whom were women or girls[4]. Between 2020 and 2023, 202,478 individuals were identified as being involved in trafficking globally. However, quantifying the exact number of victims is complex due to the hidden nature of the phenomenon, the limited transparency of some states in disclosing data, and the impossibility of ascertaining the identities of trafficked persons.

At this point, it is necessary to ask which actors play a key role, distinguishing victims from traffickers. Regarding the former, gender profoundly impacts women's treatment and likelihood of experiencing physical and sexual violence, as well as threats against family members. More broadly, 64% of trafficked women are employed in sexual exploitation[5].

Conversely, traffickers are predominantly male (67% investigated and 70% convicted[6]), although cases of cross-gender collaboration cannot be ruled out, particularly within organized crime groups. Some studies instead focus on the correlation between female involvement in trafficking and prior experiences of sexual exploitation, highlighting how victims of the same system may contribute to its self-perpetuation. In most cases, trafficking is driven by structured, locally rooted criminal networks that operate like businesses. In rural contexts, however, traffickers are often individual actors or small family units who recruit victims through coercion, abuse, deception, or promises of economic and social advancement. The nature of the perpetrators varies depending on the region: in Latin America, they are often linked to drug cartels and smugglers, unlike in Africa, where armed groups, tribes, and militias play a central role. A common factor is political, economic, and social instability, which allows non-state actors and paramilitary gangs to intervene, intensify existing conflicts, and sustain illicit trade—thus giving rise to so-called “new wars.” Long and intense, these conflicts tend to become protracted, leading to the erosion of state structures and the emergence of “failed states.” These new wars primarily develop in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, thriving in the absence of robust state, judicial, and economic institutions—conditions that human traffickers exploit amid humanitarian crises.

Human trafficking is, therefore, a modern scourge that transcends national wealth and prestige, finding fertile ground in environmental degradation, poverty, and the erosion of institutional legitimacy.

The Role Stability Police Units (SPUs)

The deterioration of the social and state architecture fosters the rise of revisionist movements seeking to undermine the established order, as well as illicit activities that exploit human beings. Protecting individuals requires assertive and

coordinated responses, aimed at strengthening institutions and regulatory frameworks, while integrating local partners, peacemakers, and international stabilization units. Entities such as the Stability Police Units (SPUs) – specialized police units – serve as an example of how such collaboration can counter transnational crime and terrorism, promoting greater awareness through resilient and preventive training.

SPUs actively participate in international missions in fragile situations, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), marked by a brutal colonial legacy and ongoing conflict. The country's instability is accompanied by the government's resurgence of national security forces and armed groups, who repeatedly carry out attacks on civilians and extrajudicial executions. Furthermore, pressure from neighbouring Rwanda is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis facing the DRC, with 7.3 million displaced people and 113,000 cases of sexual violence in 2023, and double the number the following year[7]. Congo is a dramatic example of the correlation between political insecurity, personal insecurity, and violations of civil and political rights, as well as the need for peacekeeping missions.

The duty to protect civilians and strengthen – or rebuild – institutions is a prerogative of MONOUSCO (United Nations Mission for Stabilization in the Democratic Republic of the Congo). Launched in 2010 and extended through 2025, the operation aims to involve 13,000 peacekeepers, supported by Stability Police Units (SPUs), comprising civilian and military personnel, primarily from Senegal, Egypt, Bangladesh, India, Djibouti, Niger, Mali, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Tunisia. Complementing this is the Force Intervention Brigade (FIB), a rapid response unit composed of up to 11,500 peacekeepers, 600 military observers and staff officers, 443 police officers, and 1,270 military personnel from police units[8]. However, analysts are sceptical about the effectiveness of MONOUSCO's mandate, preceded by the experience of the MONUC mission (1999–2010), which failed to stabilize the region, due to a lack of trust in UN personnel. The outcome was also determined by the insufficient powers to put an end to the illicit activities of armed groups, violence, exploitation and laundering of mineral resources, and human trafficking. From an operational standpoint, a rethinking of international missions is essential, as well as greater integration between local actors and the SPU.

Operational Recommendations

Strengthening both political and personal security is impossible without the synergy among regional structures, international institutions, local actors, and multilevel legal instruments. Despite the existence of solid legal frameworks – such as the Palermo Protocol (2000) on the Prevention, Suppression and Punishment of Trafficking in Human Beings and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on the Protection of Women, Peace and Security – the fight against human exploitation persists, driven by the profitability and impunity of trafficking.

As already noted, political insecurity is amplified by the arbitrary use of violence, but is mitigated by coherent and stable state structures. For this reason, it is imperative to rebuild institutions and, above all, trust in them, starting with the valorization of communities and individuals. Citizens – direct victims of state erosion – thus play a crucial role in anti-trafficking missions and peacekeeping mandates, taking an active role as strategic allies – rather than being viewed by peacekeepers themselves as passive or enemies.

In crisis areas, trust is built over time, through education and the adoption of preventive and training strategies by civilian and military actors – charged with containing conflicts and providing social assistance. Awareness of criminal phenomena is promoted through effective security policies, the qualified support of local law enforcement, and the victim-centered mandate of Stability Police Units (SPUs). Structured crimes, such as human trafficking, require dedicated agencies and bodies dedicated to their eradication, supported by ongoing monitoring mechanisms to collect accurate data on crimes and assess the impact of SPUs.

Multilateral cooperation is the solution to countering political instability, organized crime, and human trafficking. However, it requires a transparent, resilient, and far-sighted vision from national governments and international organizations. Institutional stability and political security cannot exist without the protection of individuals and human rights, which requires the ability to act directly and sustainably through credible, human-centered governance. Talking about security today requires a rethinking of all its dimensions and a primary focus on human security.

[1] Amnesty International Italy. (2025, April 23). 2024–2025 report: The global human rights crisis. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.it/rapporto-2024-2025-crisi-globale-dei-diritti-umani/

[2] United Nations. (2000, November 15). Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, Supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNTOC/Publications/Convention/French/FR_Protocol_to_Prevent_Suppress_and_Punish_Trafficking_in_Persons_especially_Women_and_Children.pdf

[3] International Labour Organization. (2022, September). Global estimates of modern slavery: Forced labour and forced marriage. https://www.ilo.org/publications/major-publications/global-estimates-modern-slavery-forced-labour-and-forced-marriage

[4] European Commission – Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs. (2025, April 7). New data indicates an increase of victims of trafficking in human beings in the EU. Retrieved from https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/news/new-data-indicates-increase-victims-trafficking-human-beings-eu-2025-04-07_en

[5] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2024, December). Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024. https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2024/GLOTIP2024_BOOK.pdf

[6] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2024, December). Global Report on Trafficking in Persons 2024. https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2024/GLOTIP2024_BOOK.pdf

[7] Amnesty International Italy. (2025). Democratic Republic of the Congo: human rights violations. In Report 2024–2025: Sub-Saharan Africa. https://www.amnesty.it/rapporti-annuali/rapporto-2024-2025/africa-subsahariana/repubblica-democratica-del-congo/

[8] Redazione. (2025, January 3). The UN renews MONUSCO mandate in Congo. Analisi Difesa. https://www.analisidifesa.it/2025/01/lonu-rinnova-il-mandato-della-monusco-in-congo/