R2P in Focus, No. 6
R2P in Focus
R2P in Focus is a monthly publication from the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect designed to highlight recent events and political developments concerning the Responsibility to Protect (R2P).
8th UN General Assembly Informal Interactive Dialogue on R2P
UN Photo/Cia Pak
On 6 September the President of the 70th UN General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, convened the eighth informal interactive dialogue on R2P. This year’s dialogue was focused on the last report of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on R2P: “Mobilizing collective action: The next decade of the responsibility to protect.” In his opening remarks, UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said R2P was a signature achievement of the UN and that “the time has now come to seriously counter and confront crisis and potential crisis situations. There are millions of people looking to the UN for help in a time of dire need, conflict and distress. In the name of humanity and in the spirit of the UN Charter, we must not fail them.”
A panel of experts, including the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Mr. Adama Dieng, and two former Special Advisers on R2P, Dr. Edward Luck and Dr. Jennifer Welsh, presented their perspectives on the Secretary-General’s report. During the debate, 68 member states and the European Union delivered statements on behalf of 93 countries. For the third year in a row, the UN Group of Friends of R2P delivered a statement at the event. Additionally, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect was among four civil society organizations to deliver statements.
Member states used the dialogue as an opportunity to reflect upon remaining obstacles to mobilizing consistent and timely action to prevent or halt atrocities. Some member states spoke about how to improve the UN’s response in the face of atrocities, including through supporting the ACT Code of Conduct and the French/Mexican Initiative on the veto, strengthening peacekeeping through the Kigali Principles, and encouraging regular briefings to the UN Security Council by the UN Office on the Prevention of Genocide and R2P. Participants also discussed countering violent extremism and accountability for mass atrocity crimes.
For more information, including statements and video footage, see our Overview of the 8th Annual Informal Interactive Dialogue on R2P.
UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministeria l
On 8 September over 80 UN troop contributing countries gathered in London for the annual UN Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial. Many states made pledges to bolster their troop, police and financial contributions. The outcome document focused on the “Three Ps” of peacekeeping: planning, pledges and performance. During the meeting participants addressed the need for peacekeepers to deliver on their mandated responsibilities, particularly with regard to civilian protection, noting the “best practices set out in the Kigali Principles.”
UNGA Calendar Highlights
The annual general debate of the 71st UN General Assembly will take place from 20 to 26 September. The Global Centre is co-hosting and participating in a variety of events during this important time.
Monday, 19 September 2016
The governments of the United Kingdom, Belgium and Iraq will co-host an event on fighting impunity for victims of Da’esh. The Global Centre’s Executive Director, Dr. Simon Adams, will be moderating the event.
Tuesday, 20 September 2016
The Holy See and the UN Office on the Prevention of Genocide and R2P will co-host an event with the Global Centre on the role of religious leaders in preventing mass atrocities. This event is open to the public and will take place from 3:00 to 4:30 PM in UN Headquarters Conference Room 2.
Wednesday, 21 September 2016
The governments of the Netherlands, Italy and Rwanda, in coordination with the Global Centre, will co-host the 9th Annual Ministerial Roundtable on the Responsibility to Protect. The discussion will focus on the Kigali Principles on the Protection of Civilians.
Thursday, 22 September 2016
The governments of Liechtenstein, Mexico and Costa Rica, in partnership with the Global Centre, will co-host an event on preventing mass atrocities and advancing UN Security Council reform.
For information on all #UNGA events and statements that are R2P-related, follow @GCR2P on Twitter.
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