The “Responsibility to Protect” In Light of the Case of Syria

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Abstract

This paper is based on the United Nations initiative that is known as “Responsibility to Protect” against those states that are suffering from the criminal offenses like war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The paper focuses on Syria with the reference of “Responsibility to Protect” act of the United Nations to ensure sovereignty and integrity of the state by limiting the mass atrocities and negative acts against the international community. Syria was taken into the study to inform the readers about the issues for which the Syrian governments and population is rejecting the neutral approach behind the R2P initiative. It is the cultural and religious issues that are not looking possible to be resolved even in upcoming future.

Tables of Content

The “Responsibility to Protect” In Light of the Case of Syria4

Introduction4

Discussion5

Scope of “Responsibility to protect” doctrine5

International actors advocating “Responsibility to Protect”6

Obstacles the surround the case of Syria6

Potential of the doctrine towards the intended goals of R2P7

Conclusion8

References9

The “Responsibility to Protect” In Light of the Case of Syria

Introduction

An initiative that was established by United Nations in 2005 is commonly known as “Responsibility to protect” (RtoP or R2P). This initiative was based on some set of norms, ideas or set of principles that does not only encourages and enforces sovereignty in the state but highlights the responsibilities of the governing authorities of the state. R2P mainly focuses on the prevention and halt of deadly four crimes found in the world that are: war crimes, genocide, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. All of these crimes are placed under the generic umbrella term well known as “Mass Atrocity Crimes”. R2P has three well defined pillars which are:

An international community is kept responsible to provides assistance to the state in fulfilling its primary responsibilities and should make it accountable for it;

Every state is responsible for protecting its population from the worst effects of mass atrocities;

In any case if the state fails to provide security and protection to its citizens from mass atrocities and at the same time if the peaceful measures have failed, at that time it is the ultimate responsibility of the international community to get into the state affairs and provide guidance to it in order to come out of the existing consequences. The international community can provide assistance in the form of financial aids, military assistance or political support according to the states requirements. It is extremely recommended that military intervention should be considered in the last resort.

The international community considers 'responsibility to protect' as a norm and not a law that is must. Responsibility to protect facilitates the international community with a blueprint by using techniques and rules that are already in use such as early warning mechanisms, mediation, prevention of state from mass atrocities and chapter VII powers. Regional organizations, international institutions, states and civil society organizations all have a distinctive role to play in the responsibility to protect process. General Assembly and ...