Responsibility to Protect (R2P) &

The Road Ahead

Tina J. ParkExecutive Director, Canadian Centre for R2P

www.ccr2p.org

25 February 2013: AGENDA

Introduction to R2P Historical context ICISS & Canadian leadership 2005 World Summit Outcome &R2P The Three Pillar Approach The Libyan case RwP & The role of emerging powers The Syrian case Moving forward on R2P: Challenges ahead Canadian Centre for R2P Inter-Parliamentary Union & R2P Resolution

What is Responsibility to Pro-tect?

R2P or RtoP; a humanitarian principle coined in 2001 & later adopted by 150 countries at the 2005 World Summit

when sovereign states are unable or unwilling to fulfill their responsibility to protect their own populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, the in-ternational community has the re-sponsibility to protect populations at risk.

Historical context of R2P

Post- Cold War era and the outbreak of new conflicts in the 1990s

“Humanitarian intervention” became the new buzzword

Controversies when it took place (Somalia, Bosnia, and Kosovo) and when it failed to take place (Rwanda).

ICISS 2001

Responding to the then United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s call to build a new global consensus for pro-tecting people in peril…

Canadian leadership with the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty (ICISS).

Report on the Responsibility to Protect in December 2001

R2P as found in the ICISS report

GOALS OF THE ICISS:1) Change the conceptual language from humani-

tarian intervention to responsibility to protect2) Pin the responsibility on state authorities at

the national and at the international level3) Ensure that interventions are carried out in a

proper manner.

the responsibility to react to protect popula-tions from grievous harm, to prevent such situations, and to rebuild in their after-math.

Significance of R2P

In IR: normative and concep-tual shift from a Westphalian notion of absolute sovereignty to “sovereignty as a responsibility”

Canadian leadership with the ICICSS & our long-standing tradition in global humanitar-ianism

Canada as a “norm entrepre-neur” for giving birth to R2P

2005 World Summit Out-come Paragraphs 138-139 150 heads of stateGenocideWar crimesCrimes against humanityEthnic cleansing

PREVENTION & DIPLOMACY INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY &

Chapter 7 ‘collective use of force’

The Report of the Secretary Gen-eral: Implementing the Responsi-bility to Protect

12 January 2009, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a report entitled Imple-menting the Responsibility to Protect

Three Pillar Approach - protection responsibilities of the

state,the international assistance and capa-

city- building & timely and decis-ive response.

These pillars are to be employed simultaneously as needed

R2P & Libya

Resolution 1970 – Libya’s R2P

Security Council Resolu-tion 1973 on Libya (ap-proving a no-fly-zone, calling for an immediate cease-fire and tightening sanctions on the Muammar Qaddafi regime in Libya)

Selective nature of interven-tion & regime change

The Brazilian concept of “Responsibility While Protecting”

RWP, first articulated in the fall of 2011

- Monitor and improve SC’s sanc-tioned use of force;

- The sequencing of R2P's three pillars;

- Need to exhaust all peaceful means before considering the use of force.

R2P & Syria

Crimes against humanity Cluster bombs Refugees/IDPs International Humanitar-

ian Law & HR Law International Criminal Law Canada refused to join call

on the UN Security Council to refer the situation in

Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Moving FORWARD on R2P

Conceptual & institutional challenges Issues of selectivity & consistency UN Security Council - Veto Power Danger of “unintended consequences” Canadian ideals and inspirations on

the world stage ? Changing trends in the last while…

National R2P Focal Points , partner-ships, Media & Education

Based at Munk School of Global Affairs, U of T A non-profit, non-partisan research institute Promotes scholarly engagement & political implementa-

tion of R2P Over 50 undergraduate and graduate analysts Research divisions in English & French (parliamentary, civil society, media) Graduate legal research division composed of students

from the Faculty of Law, University of Toronto Trace Canadian government’s policies on R2P Serve as a hub of information, research and analyses on

R2P To provide a forum for discussion and debates on R2P R2Plive.org

http://r2plive.wordpress.com/

Some upcoming projects at the CCR2P:

1) Press Conference in Ottawa: May 7th 20132) R2P Action Plan for Canada & National Focal Pt3) “Canadian Voices on R2P” Publication Project4) Essay Contest on R2P 5) Youtube channel & R2P video production6) 20th Anniversary of Rwandan Genocide : HR

Awareness campaign in collaboration with the Global Centre for R2P (New York)

7) “R2P Education Kit” – public education efforts8) Annual conference & Public Debate on R2P

R2P Live: Global Portal of R2P

•6 Continents, 27 Countries•62 Different Sources

•All UN languages covered•Viewership from 82 coun-

tries•Follow us on Twitter & Face-

book!

Inter-Parliamentary Union & R2P

The IPU is the international organization of Parliaments established in 1889. The Union serves as the focal point for worldwide parliamentary dialogue and works for peace and co-operation among peoples and for the firm establishment of representative democracy.

 Enforcing the R2P: The Role of Parliament in Safeguard-ing Civilians’ Lives, was moderated by Mr. S.H. Chowdury (President of the IPU’s First Standing Committee) and included two parliamentarian co-rapporteurs, Mr. L. Ramatlakane (South Africa) and Mr. S. Jan-quin (France) as well as two experts.

Resolution be adopted in Quito, March 2013

The IPU’s Draft Resolution on R2P

Enforcing R2P must be timely, consistent and effective to avoid deadlock on a crisis;

Underscoring the importance of combating impunity (Role of ICC);

Empowering Media & Civil Society; Prevention is a core aspect of R2P; Early-warning systems at regional levels; Military intervention as a last resort; and Calls on parliaments to take all necessary

legislative measures & establish com-mittees.

The Road Ahead

“Our conception of Responsibility To Protect is narrow but deep…Today, the R2P is a concept, not yet a policy; an aspiration, not yet a reality. But the United Nations was built on ideals and aspirations…”

    - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon

Contact

Tina J. Park

Canadian Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

Munk School of Global Affairs 1 Devonshire Place Toronto, ON M5S 3K7

www.ccr2p.orgTina.Park@utoronto.ca