Responsibility to Protect the Civilians an Unfulfilled Promise: UN Chief

By R Anil Kumar

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that the world today is failing to protect the civilians from mass atrocity crimes, calling for a renewed global commitment to the responsibility to protect – a Principle adopted 2 decades ago that remains, in his words, ‘a moral imperative’ and ‘an unfulfilled promise’

New York. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said that the world is witnessing more armed conflicts than ever before since the end of the second world war.

Addressing the UN General Assembly in New York, Guterres said “Too often early warnings go unheeded and alleged evidence of crimes committed by States and non-state actors are met with denial, indifference or repression,’he told the Member States.

Responses are often too little, too late, inconsistent or undermined by double standards and civilians are paying the highest price for this, he stated.

THE PLEDGE: The Secretary General’s address marked two decades since the 2005 World Summit, where global leaders had made an unprecedented commitment to protect populations from the atrocity crimes of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

Known as the Responsibility to protect or R2P, the pledge affirmed that Sovereignty carries not just rights, but responsibilities- foremost among them, the duty of every State to safeguard its own people.

When the National authorities manifestly fail to do so, the International community has a duty to act-collectively, timely and decisively- in accordance with the UN CHARTER.

AN UNFULFILLED PROMISE: “Two decades on, the Responsibility to Protect, remains both an urgent necessity, a moral imperative and an unfulfilled promise, Guterres said.

He cited worsening identity- based violence, deepening impunity and weaponization of new technologies as compounding threats to populations around the world.

“No Society is immune from the risk of atrocity crimes, “Guterres stated.

A RAY OF HOPE: The Secretary- General also presented his latest Report on the Responsibility to Protect, reflecting on two decades of progress and persistent challenges.

It draws on a global survey, showing that the Principle still enjoys broad support- not only among Member States but also among communities affected by violence.

Communities see R2P as a Raÿ of hope, but they also call for its effective implementation, Guterres sai.

Mr Guterres emphasized that prevention must begin at home, with inclusive leadership, the protection of human rights, the rule of law and it must be supported world wide through multilateral Cooperation and principled diplomacy.

Prevention must be supported globally-through multilateral Cooperation, principled diplomacy and early and decisive action to effectively protect populations.

FLASHBACK:

THE 2005 WORLD SUMMIT AND THE BIRTH OF R2P: The Responsibility to Protect was adopted by Consensus at the 2005 World Summit-at the time, the largest ever gathering of the heads of State and Government.The Summit also established the Peace building Commission to support post-conflict recovery and the Human Rights Council, to uphold human rights.

The R2P Principle is built on three pillars: The States Responsibility to Protect its population; The International Community’s Role in assisting States in this efforts, and The duty to take collective action when States manifestly fail to protect its people.

Since the adoption, R2P has helped shape International responses to atrocity crimes, guided UN Operations and informed preventive efforts, through national, regional and multilateral mechanisms.

KEEP THE PROMISE: Yet the gap between Principle and Practice remains a central concern-One the Secretary-General is urging the International Community to close.

Let us Keep the promise Guterres said, Let us move forward with resolve, unity and with the courage to act.