The responsibility to protect r2p or rtop is a global political commitment which was endorsed by all member states of the united nations at the 2005 world summit in order to address its four key concerns to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. In 2005 the au adopted the ezulwini consensus which. An analysis of the responsibility to protect program in light. Cl2 vii page 1 the common african position on the proposed reform of the united nations. Aus responsibility to protect in the libyan crisis 2011. Under the oau, the principle of noninterference in the. A thesis submitted to the university of manchester for the d egree of doctor of philosophy in the faculty of humanities 2018 bolarinwa adediran school of social sciences politics.
The nations of niger and tunisia were elected to twoyear terms on the united nations security council unsc on friday. The consensus is named after ezulwini, a valley in central swaziland now known as the. African union and the challenges of implementing responsibility to protect in africa. The ezulwini consensus has endorsed the responsibility to protect r2p that recognizes the right to intervene when a state is unwilling or unable to protect its populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. Despite its increasingly interventionist framework, the au attempts to halt mass atrocities has been severely challenged as witnessed in darfur, and more recently. Under the oau, the principle of noninterference in the domestic a airs of member states was given priority over the obligation to protect against widespread, systematic human rights abuses. The doctrine of the responsibility to protect as a practice. Responsibility to protect r2p is a principle that is always up for discussion, and has been since it was first mentioned in the iciss report from 2001, which was issued as a consequence of that rhetorical question that secretary general kofi annan asked about the genocide that occurred in rwanda and srebrenica in the 1990s.
Responsibility to protect topic the responsibility to protect r2p or rtop is a global political commitment which was endorsed by all member states of the united nations at the world summit in order to address its four key concerns to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against. The concept provides new expression to old ideas in such a way that decisionmakers have little scope to justify inaction during humanitarian crises. The legitimacy of responsibility to in international. Impressive as the response is, opposition is strong.
It responds to this query by examining how the african union au understands its responsibility to protect. Global consultative roundtables on the responsibility to protect. The responsibility to protect r2p has achieved important progress since it gained a rare political consensus at the world summit in 2005, gradually assuming a normative significance in policy and academic circles. Responsibility to protect topic the responsibility to protect r2p or rtop is a global political commitment which was endorsed by all member states of the united nations at the world. The ezulwini consensus is a position on international relations and reform of the united nations, agreed by the african union. The ezulwini consensus the african union, having deliberated at length on the report of the high. Strengthening the responsibility to protect in africa. The responsibility to protect r2p or rtop is a united nations initiative established in 2005. International authority and the responsibility to protect. Jan 01, 2014 following numerous humanitarian brutalities committed throughout the 1990s around the world, the united nations sought to create a protocol that would allow the international community to prevent further mass atrocity crimes. Also the international community has a responsibility to assist the state to fulfil its primary responsibility.
It is important to reiterate the obligation of states to protect their. In such situations, the ezulwini consensus emphasizes that regional organizations in areas of proximity to conflicts should be empowered to take. The ezulwini consensus was an inflexible negotiating position that was doomed to fail at the onset. Ezulwini consensus the ezulwini consensus is a position on international relations and reform of the united nations, agreed by the african union. Ezulwini consensus topic the ezulwini consensus is a position on international relations and reform of the united nations, agreed by the african union. International coalition for the responsibility to protect.
Jul 28, 2015 abass, in particular, looks at the aus ezulwini consensus, 10 where the members of the au declared their willingness as a regional organisation to be bound by the authority of the unsc, but also made clear that the au was willing to act in circumstances requiring urgent action and ask for the requisite authority from the unsc after the fact. International coalition for the responsibility to protect co world federalist movement institute for global policy 708 third avenue, suite 1715, new york, ny 10017. International authority and the responsibility to protect by. It calls for a more representative and democratic security council, in which africa, like all other world regions, is represented. In such situations, the ezulwini consensus emphasizes that regional. Jun 28, 2019 ezulwini consensus topic the ezulwini consensus is a position on international relations and reform of the united nations, agreed by the african union.
Mar 12, 2019 ezulwini consensus the ezulwini consensus is a position on international relations and reform of the united nations, agreed by the african union. An analysis of the responsibility to protect program in light of the conflict in syria. Evaluating 12 years of responsibility to protect lemun. Following numerous humanitarian brutalities committed throughout the 1990s around the world, the united nations sought to create a protocol that would allow the international community to prevent further mass atrocity crimes. The responsibility to protect r2p or rtop is a global political commitment which was endorsed by all member states of the united nations at the world summit in order to address its four key concerns to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. During the general debate at the general assembly last year, the issue was again raised countless times. The african unions right of humanitarian intervention as. The african union and the responsibility to protect. Retrieved october power is shifting, but not in the security council, where the victors of a war fought 70 years ago determine every important decision. Under r2p, state sovereignty is not only a right, but an obligation for a state to protect its citizens. Under the au, such human rights issues are addressed. Peace and conflict monitor, challenges and prospects of au to.
In 2005, the united nations adopted the responsibility to protect. The responsibility to protect r2p or rtop is a global political commitment which was endorsed by all member states of the united nations at the world summit in order to address its. Responsibility to protect and broad issues of peace and security in africa. The responsibility to protect implies a duty to react to situations in which there is compelling need for human protection.
The consensus on the doctrine of the responsibility to protect has replaced ideas of humanitarian intervention with a new vision of the responsibilities that states have to protect their peoples from the most egregious suffering. Authorization for the use of force by the security council should be in. In the ezulwini consensus, the au clarified its position on the normative conflict between. Sarkin global responsibility to protect 2 2010 371 387 373 on the continent. Assessing a partnership for peace in darfur 2009 141 journal of conflict and security law 93. Human rights and armed conflict icelandic human rights. R2p is an emerging international humanitarian and security norm which grants the council power to intervene if a sovereign state is unable, or unwilling, to protect its population from war. It is the responsibility of a state to protect its population from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. They join the 10nation roster of nonpermanent members to the council, along with incoming nations estonia, vietnam and in a first for. Apr 04, 2020 the ezulwini consensus is a position on international relations and reform of the united nations, agreed by the african union. Position, known as the ezulwini consensus, which contains the following. The responsibility to protect r2p or rtop is a global political commitment which was endorsed by all member states of the united nations at the 2005 world summit in order to address its four key concerns to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity the principle of the responsibility to protect is based upon the underlying premise that sovereignty entails a.
If the state manifestly fails to protect its citizens from the four above mass. Au also adopted the ezulwini consensus in 2005, which welcomed r2p as a tool for the prevention of mass atrocities. This is evidenced in the common paper known as the ezulwini consensus adopted at the au executive council seventh extraordinary session in addis. Jul 30, 2019 ezulwini consensus the ezulwini consensus is a position on international relations and reform of the united nations, agreed by the african union.
On their part, the g4 and the africa group opened negotiations in london in 2005 in order to reach a consensus as they would be unable to muster the required support independently. This is evidenced in the common paper known as the ezulwini consensus adopted at the au executive council seventh extraordinary session in addis ababa. This resolution complements the work that the ngo forum. Without any gainsaying, or being exaggerated, the origin of this program can be. Responsibility to protect r2p is a new concept in international relations which can be defined as an. Peace and conflict monitor, challenges and prospects of au. The ezulwini consensus, while recognising that primary responsibility rests with the security council, allows for the possibility that the union 481 human rights and armed conflict may receive from the council afterthefact approval for intervention in extreme emergencies. The responsibility to protect is thus a mobilisation tool for timely action in worstcase scenarios, and not a panacea for issues of human security. Members called for reform by 2015, since this year marks the 70th. An analysis of the responsibility to protect program in. The doctrine of the responsibility to protect as a. A thesis submitted to the university of manchester for the d egree of doctor of philosophy in the faculty of humanities 2018 bolarinwa. The ezulwini consensus has endorsed the responsibility to protect r2p that.
It consists of an emerging norm, or set of principles, based on the idea that sovereignty is not a right, but a responsibility. Taking stock of the responsibility to protect in africa. Significantly, the ezulwini consensus expressed support for the responsibility to protect doctrine. After many debates and compromises, the responsibility to protect program was created.
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