UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Responsibility to Protect (“RtoP” or “R2P”)

PDF

 

The responsibility to protect embodies a political commitment to end the worst forms of violence and persecution. It seeks to narrow the gap between Member States’ pre-existing obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and the reality faced by populations at risk of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

Source: https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/about-responsibility-to-protect.shtml

 

UN Entities

UN Events

 

Selected UN Documents

  • A/77/910-S/2023/409 (6 June 2023): Development and the responsibility to protect: recognizing and addressing embedded risks and drivers of atrocity crimes: report of the Secretary-General: https://undocs.org/A/77/910
  • A/76/844-S/2022/428 (26 May 2022): Responsibility to protect: prioritizing children and young people: Report of the Secretary-General: https://undocs.org/A/76/844
  • A/75/863–S/2021/424 (3 May 2021): Advancing atrocity prevention: work of the Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect: Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/75/863
  • A/74/964-S/2020/501 (23 July 2020): Prioritizing prevention and strengthening response: women and the responsibility to protect : report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/74/964
  • A/HRC/RES/44/14: Fifteenth anniversary of the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, as enshrined in the 2005 World Summit Outcome: resolution / adopted by the Human Rights Council on 17 July 2020: http://undocs.org/A/HRC/RES/44/14
  • A/73/898–S/2019/463 (10 June 2019): Responsibility to protect: lessons learned for prevention; Report of the Secretary-General: https://undocs.org/A/73/898
  • A/72/884–S/2018/525 (1 June 2018): Responsibility to protect: from early warning to early action; Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/72/884
  • A/71/1016-S/2017/556 (10 August 2017): Implementing the responsibility to protect: accountability for prevention; Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/71/1016
  • A/70/999–S/2016/620 (22 July 2016): Mobilizing collective action : the next decade of the responsibility to protect: Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/70/999
  • S/2015/815 (26 October 2015): Letter dated 22 October 2015 from the Permanent Representative of Chile to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/S/2015/815
    Transmits summary and conclusions of the 5th meeting of the Global Network of Responsibility to Protect Focal Points, held in Madrid, 23-24 June 2015.
  • A/69/981-S/2015/500 (13 July 2015): A vital and enduring commitment: implementing the responsibility to protect; Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/69/981
  • A/68/947-S/2014/449 (11 July 2014): Fulfilling our collective responsibility: international assistance and the responsibility to protect; Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/68/947
  • A/67/929–S/2013/399 (9 July 2013): Responsibility to protect: State responsibility and prevention; Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/67/929
  • A/66/874–S/2012/578 (25 July 2012): Responsibility to protect: timely and decisive response; Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/66/874
  • A/66/551-S/2011/701 (11 November 2011): Letter dated 2011/11/09 from the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/66/551
    Transmits a concept note developed by the Government of Brazil on the issue entitled “Responsibility while protecting elements for the development and promotion of a concept”.
  • A/65/877-S/2011/393 (28 June 2011): The role of regional and subregional arrangements in implementing the responsibility to protect: report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/65/877
  • A/64/864 (14 July 2010): Early warning, assessment and the responsibility to protect : Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/64/864
  • A/RES/63/308 (adopted 14 September 2009): The responsibility to protect: http://undocs.org/A/RES/63/308 
  • A/63/958 (9 September 2009): Concept note on the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity : note / by the President of the General Assembly: http://undocs.org/A/63/958
  • A/63/677 (12 January 2009): Implementing the responsibility to protect : Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/63/677
  • S/RES/1706 (adopted 31 August 2006): Security Council resolution 1706 (2006) [on expansion of the mandate of the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) to support the implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement]: http://undocs.org/S/RES/1706(2006)
    In the second preambular paragraph of this resolution, the Security Council recalled its earlier reaffirmation of the provisions regarding the provisions of paragraphs 138 and 139 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome document.
  • S/RES/1674 (adopted 28 April 2006): Security Council resolution 1674 (2006) [on protection of civilians in armed conflict]: http://undocs.org/S/RES/1674(2006)
    In paragraph 4 of this resolution, the Security Council reaffirmed the provisions of paragraphs 138 and 139 of the 2005 World Summit Outcome regarding the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.
  • A/RES/60/1 (adopted 16 September 2005): 2005 World Summit Outcome : resolution: http://undocs.org/A/RES/60/1
    Paragraphs 138 and 139 of this document: “Responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity”
  • A/59/2005 (21 March 205):  In larger freedom: towards development, security and human rights for all; Report of the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/59/2005
  • A/59/565 (2 December 2004): Note [transmitting report of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, entitled “A more secure world: our shared responsibility”]: http://undocs.org/A/59/565
  • A/57/303 (14 Aug. 2002): Letter dated 2002/07/26 from the Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General: http://undocs.org/A/57/303
    Transmits report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty entitled “The Responsibility to Protect”

 

Selected Statements and Speeches by UN Officials

 

Selected UN Publications & Articles available online

 

Further Information

 

Non-UN Sources

 

15 December 2023
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-r2p

Latest updated backgrounders

UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Niger

Looking for information on the situation in Niger? Take a look at this backgrounder.

UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Artificial Intelligence – Selected Online Resources

Looking for information on artificial intelligence (AI)? Here is an overview of selected resources from the UN system.

UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Sudan/Darfur

Overview of UN entities working in Sudan, Security Council Meetings on Sudan, statements by UN officials, etc.

UNRIC Library Newsletter

* New websites and publications of the UN system;
* New information material available for download.

You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in the footer of the newsletter you receive from us, or by contacting us at [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook

0FansLike