Responsibility to protect is a Frequently misunderstood concept
By Desmond Tutu
[Rt.Rev Desmond Tutu-pic:Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation]
What is to be done when a government is unwilling or unable to stop mass atrocities being committed within its borders? That question has been asked far too many times in Africa – from Rwanda to Eastern Congo, from Somalia to Darfur.
The horrors of conflict in Africa continue today, but there is also a sign of how rapid response, with support from neighbors and the international community, can save lives and bring hope. In contrast to the crises in Rwanda in 1994 and Darfur in 2003, we see today in Kenya the formation of an international consensus that it is unacceptable to ignore violence of the kind that has occurred in recent months or to consider the crisis as purely an internal matter of the state.
What has brought about this change in attitude? We can’t underestimate the importance of the leadership and people of Kenya committing themselves to finding a just and equitable way forward. But it should also be acknowledged that the international community has moved far faster in addressing this conflict than it has in similar situations elsewhere. The United Nations has engaged at the highest political levels, the Security Council has issued a statement deploring the violence, and the secretary general and the leadership of human rights offices have been mobilized. African leaders have provided invaluable mediation. This now centers on the work being done by Kofi Annan, Graça Machel and Benjamin M’Kapa, at the request of the African Union.
I believe what we are seeing in Kenya is action on a fundamental principle – the Responsibility to Protect. At the UN World Summit in September 2005, government leaders pledged that states must protect their populations from mass atrocities and, if they fail, the international community must take action.
Unfortunately, the Responsibility to Protect is frequently misunderstood. It is not a justification of military intervention. It simply requires states to protect their own people and help other states to build the capacity to do the same. It means that international organizations like the UN have a responsibility to warn, to generate effective preventive strategies, and when necessary, to mobilize effective responses. The crisis in Kenya illustrates this: The primary role for outside actors is to protect civilians-not least by helping governments to improve security and protect human rights.
Nevertheless, despite some encouraging signs, little progress has been made towards implementing R2P, as it is often called, at the UN or at the national level. One response that I particularly welcome took place in November when women leaders from around the world convened a summit on global security and pledged to promote international support for the Responsibility to Protect and ensure that women’s views and involvement are included in peace and security initiatives. Think how different the situations in the Eastern Congo or Darfur could be if women were fully involved in seeking solutions.
More must be done to bring R2P to life. Last week in New York, a Global Center on the Responsibility to Protect was launched. Its aims are to build greater acceptance of the R2P norm and to work with others to call attention to how it must be applied in real-world crises. The Elders, the group of leaders brought together last year by Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel, have declared February as responsibility to Protect month as part of our Every Human Has Rights campaign to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Universal Declaration was adopted in the aftermath of World War II, the Holocaust and the use of nuclear weapons. World opinion came together then to say, “never again.” Yet in the past six decades, we have witnessed mass atrocities committed against others across the globe. We all share a responsibility to do whatever we can to help prevent and protect one another from such violence.
The place to start is with prevention: through measures aimed in particular at building state capacity, remedying grievances, and ensuring the rule of law. My hope is that in the future, the Responsibility to Protect will be exercised not after the murder and rape of innocent people, but when community tensions and political unrest begin. It is by preventing, rather than reacting, that we can truly fulfill our shared responsibility to end the worst forms of human rights abuses.
[Nobel peace prize winner Rt.Rev Desmond Tutu is Anglican archbishop emeritus of Cape Town and chairman of The African Elders Council. This article is reproduced from International Herald Tribune]
Dayan said,
February 28, 2008 @ 8:28 am
R2P For Humans, Animals and Environment.
R2P for humans is the missing link.
KTR said,
February 28, 2008 @ 10:47 am
Excellent Sir. Timely publication.
Devinda Fernando said,
February 28, 2008 @ 11:46 am
R2P i is a Political Tool that is being used by Other powers and Non-State Actors with power within outside Governments (such as Diaspora Lobbyists) to exert their influence.
Where was R2P when the LTTE were massacring civilians in the 1990s and when they Ethnically Cleansed the Muslims from the North? Where was R2P then?
The whole issue about the R2P doctrine is that the Diaspora supporters of the LTTE are trying to bring this into the forefront of the USA with the hope that they can draw parallels with Kosovo and have it apply in their situation. The two key elements being that firstly, they have to portray this war as a war against Tamils, and secondly they have to portray this war as a ‘Genocide’ of some sorts. Both of which are False yet both of which are being Screamed as loud as possible from Foreign Pulpits.
The precedent this sets is that R2P can then be used as a Tool in conjunction with Terrorism as a way to “Play the System’ and acquire a separation from a sovereign state. All an ethnic group or body of people have to do is simply take up arms, commit atrocities towards the majority population, allow their own population to be put in the crossfire of any retaliatory action by the target Government then claim R2P necessity as they are being ‘attacked’ by the majority government. Put a few pictures of dead bodies on the web and in front of easily bought off politicians and push the agenda through some Western government. Easy as 1, 2, 3!
Gee Sampanthan said,
February 28, 2008 @ 1:04 pm
Rev Tutu , you and Nelson Mandela are two great people. Reading
what you write gives life a better meaning. Please keep it up and also give my best regards to Nelson Mandela. God bless both of
your.
When governments not only fail to protect , but also become a threat to lives of many innocent people.. yes we all should welcome the R2P doctrine. Good people should interfere when something going wrong in the neighbourhood.
Protect the innocent and protect the lives of all. Protect has a big conflict with arms trade .. please make arms sales a big issue …these days too much surplus of arms in arms manufacturing countries and they dump it on these surplus arms on these poor countries only to worsen the already precarious situation for the innocent and ordinary people. It is unbelievable to have R2P hand in hand with arms trade.
Yes it is true , without arms trade , there is no other trade for some big countries….I hope they will develop alternate and viable industries to keep people employed and companies to make profit. When any developed country sells and in many cases just give it away lethal weapons , then how to protect lives ?.
ilaya seran senguttuvan said,
February 28, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
The relevant phrases in the good Bishop’s piece are “What is to be done when a Govt is unwilling or unable to stop mass atrocities within its borders” In the case of Sri Lanka over the years and
under different administrations it has been both. The Bishop adds
“R2P simply requires States to protect their own people and help build capacity to prevent same happening in the future” And, we (GoSL) has signed the Protocol. So what’s all this flak against
Gareth Evans and Rama Mani? It will not be long before our own
patriotic brige brand Desmond Tutu as an “LTTE supporter”
with Katana Pulle declaring the Bishop has taken money from
the LTTE to be followed by Keheliya to rave “this Bishop is mad”
Sri Lanka! When are you going to come to your senses and do some self-criticism yourself. As Mao said focus the spotlight on to yourself and you will “see the light clearly”
Suresh M said,
February 28, 2008 @ 7:58 pm
R2P U.N. doctrine, Sinhala government is a signatory.
Jey P said,
February 28, 2008 @ 8:54 pm
For the sake of readers, http://www.responsibilitytoprotect.org/ please read more about R2P.- Thanks DBS
des murray said,
February 29, 2008 @ 6:15 am
When will the world populations get the laws to hold their politicians to account for the atrocities that they commit against their populations in order to secure for themselves the right to do as they like. When the UN can draw up a charter to prosecute heads of state for human rights abuses against its own citizens then the UN will have come of age. The UN has not attempted to tackle the difficult questions of responsibility and corruption mainly because it is inhabited by politicians who are very eager to keep the noose from their own necks. It is time that the people of the world turned on all political institutions that subject all citizens to the will of politicians without any redress for the greivances caused them in the name of the state. The UN politicians have always dodged the question of responsibility of heads of state.
Canaga said,
February 29, 2008 @ 7:50 am
Yes, the Tamils waited too long to start the war. They tried all means of peaceful actions and satyagraha – got no where with the Government, but constant beating up. We lost 20 years in trying peaceful means with a Governemnt that does not understand it.
All that was then required was a federal system, and Ceylon would have gone sky high by now, instead of where we are now.
Dayan said,
February 29, 2008 @ 10:28 am
Rt.Rev Desmond Tutu said “Responsibility to protect is a Frequently misunderstood concept ” and he assume that the people misunderstood the R2P frequently. He is an innocent person and is expecting the same human nature from every individual. He does not know that the people who oppose the freedom of human race manipulate the democratic institutions and oppose the R2P not frequently but all the time. The violators of human rights can easily understand the principal of R2P but always manipulate to achieve the goal of ethnic cleansing and genocide.
The R2P project never materialised to intervene in Sri Lanaka. The article explains the need and the urgency to implement the principal to protect. It is already a part of life in the western countries and many other developing countries.
Eg It is an offence not to inform and protect a fellow citizen from a terrorist attack or any other malicious events. Now, this is applicable to the state actors and NGO.
The perspective of a racist from Sri Lanka is that the R2P is invented by LTTE to destroy the only Sinhala Buddhist state in the world. This is hilarious and explains the nature of people in that part of the world. They wanted the people of other nations to give up the responsibility to protect a human until the GOSL completely destroy the Tamil-speaking people in the name of war on terror.
R2P is nothing to do with terrorist or any non-state actors but with sovereign states. It is to protect the human race from war and human rights violations.
Devinda Fernando said,
February 29, 2008 @ 2:54 pm
R2P does not apply to Sri Lanka. There is NO Genocide or Ethnic Cleansing. This is not even Sinhalese vs. Tamils. Kosovo is mostly Ethnic Albanian, Serbia is mostly comprised of the Serbian ethnic group. Sri Lanka has 54% of Tamils living with the Sinhalese in the South, and the East is mostly Muslim not Tamil so there is no justified claim that this is an Ethnic Conflict. Ironically there were many Muslims in Jaffna but the LTTE Ethnically cleansed them from there. It is only those Separatists who want to split the country along Racial Lines that try to Falsely portray this to the International Community.
This is all False Propaganda. “Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a Chicken”. The situation in Sri Lanka is being manipulated by the LTTE and LTTE supporters abroad to try and masquerade it and paint it as something it is not in front of the UN to try get the UN to intervene under R2P.
Devinda Fernando said,
February 29, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
*** The relevant phrases in the good Bishop’s piece are “What is to be done when a Govt is unwilling or unable to stop mass atrocities within its borders” **
ilaya seran senguttuvan,
Please define Mass Atrocities? What are you referring to, please cite sources and Facts, not Over-Exaggerated Conjecture.
KTR said,
March 1, 2008 @ 8:48 am
Single examples for mass atrocity is herding the people with night gown and stuff them into busses and “deport” to their “mother land”. Is there any Sinhalese in the crowd who were herded??
Another but brutal one is unarmed NGO workers were lined up and shot in their head in an execution style by the countries own (in)security forces who are suppose to follow the “RULES of ENGAGEMENT”
How about 1983 Black July, did we forget it so soon??
I believe this forum is for intellectuals who present facts from data and history.
The argument that 54% of Tamils live in the sinhala area is fallacy and completely fabricated. They live in the south or other area because they are considered internally displaced people. Besides they were evicted from their native land due to continued aerial bombardments and War. We have to compare apples with apples and not with oranges.
The question was what percentage of Tamils Lived in the sinhala area before 1958 and where did those affected Tamils who were send to? Obviously they all were sent in ships and busses to their mother land that is where we call it our HOMELAND.
Gee Sampanthan said,
March 1, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
Re. comment 8
” When will the world populations get the laws to hold their politicians to account for the atrocities that they commit against their populations in order to secure for themselves the right to do as they like.”
This will never happen in the third world and also in the entire south Asia and southeast Asia. It is also true most of Europe,
USA and other parts of America are also doing a lip service to democracy and to the people who cast their votes in the hope of democratic values doing some good. It is only in the Scandinavian countries one see the democracy working to the most and best possible meaning. Everywhere else what we see is an elected dictatorships or some sectarian rule.
If what has been going on in USA during the past 7 + years is a measure of democracy , then democracy has lost its meaning…and Oxford dictionary has to revise the meaning as it also adds new words. Along with Bush and his cronies , Tony Blair also unfortunately gave a twist to mother of all democracies. Italy and few others are no better than any despots in the third world. John Howard with his funny lingo also damaged the democratic process in Australia. In this region only New Zealand upheld the democratic norms to its entire expectations. Others are all just the same…if Tony Blair could descend to the depths of most flagrant violators of democratic values and lend support to phony claims of terrorism by despots of all parties in Sri-Lanka and India , then a reasonable person , a thinking person is at a great loss.
Anyway.. let us sing God Save The Queen despite the flows. Well, Right Honourable Gordon Brown has a good start in reversing the trend and let us hope things will be back to the Old Glory.
ilaya seran senguttuvan said,
March 3, 2008 @ 8:18 am
Dear Devinda (12) … The word “atrocities” is not mine but the
Bishop’s. I also don’t think the Bishop was thinking of Sri lanka
when he wrote his piece. The kind of crimes against
specific ethnic communities has/is/and -sadly and very likely take place in other theatres of conflict in the world as well where brutes and animals in the form of men rule. KTR (13) has eloquently given you some examples you ask to hide the collective-shame you are going thru. There are many other
instances of atrocities in this lovely land of ours in the post 7/83
period that brings shame to humanity itself. Have you forgotten those young N-E and Estate lads (over 50) at Bindinuwewa rehab camp – some held for minor offences like not possessing I/Cs? Over 2,000 people; for over several hours walked miles to the Camp – under the care of armed army and Police men – and slaughtered many of them, put to burning fires others and smashed the heads of injured boys lying helplessly. One Police Inspector had laughed when an 18yr old Indian boy had fell at his feet while being chased by a gang with machetes and iron rods. The boys plea to the Policeman did not move him and the young fellow was slaughtered – by men who will – in other places and occasions – swear their religion tells them not to harm even flies. The provocation of these lads to the Sinhala villagers around? They “suspected” these inmates of the Rehab Camp MAY BE be Tigers. Do you remember almost an entire girls school call Senthottam was bombed from the air and over 100 girls perished
in the North. Not long along a van carrying school children
in the Mannar area came under a landmine attack and many little children perished. For the sake of convenience – the tigers were blamed. There are dozens of other examples I can give you – although this makes me sick as well.
The justice system in the land is such that even the Policeman who were initially convicted – to satisfy local and international bodes – were subsequently released. I am told when these men were convicted officials had assured the
crying relatives in the Court premises they will be released soon. They were.
Need I say more how safe Tamils in the country feel – even with those lofty guarantees under the Constitution and
the law, order and justice system that everyone
equal and unbiased consideration and protection. But, Sir, this was the same country in decades gone by where the Tamils felt and were safe under the law. What indeed happened in the interim? In the answer may lie the key to a united and peaceful land.
ilaya seran senguttuvan said,
March 3, 2008 @ 11:52 am
I also hasten to add atrocities include no less the Central Bank,
CTO, Pettah Bus Stand, Aranthalawa, Dalada Maligawa, . Kebitigollawa and many
other that took place in the South, Colombo and so on where
many valuable lives were lost – the larger number being Sinhalese
although Tamils and Muslims also perished in these senseless
carnages. To suggest these were in the nature of responses
will be insensitive and somewhat untenable. It is now realised
both sides of the war can inflict tremendous suffering and death – irrespective of who is endowed with greater resources and who less. The test for both warring sides will be how soon, to what extent and in what way they can bring peace to the country – after all this blood-letting. The Govt naturally has to give the lead simply because they hold the complete reins of political and military power.
Peter said,
March 4, 2008 @ 11:48 am
How do we call the massacre of the 17 aid workers at Muthur, the massacre of the school children at ‘chencholai’ in Vanni, the massacre of the people whose dead bodies were recovered in Horowapothana, the massacre of tamils in the 1958 ,1971, 1981 and 1983 riots. All of them are nothing but GENOCIDE against the tamil race. If the tamils have retaliated in 90’s they have putup with all the crimes committed against them starting from 1956. That means a solid 35 years.Nothing less. Why were the thugs setupon the people who were peacefully protesting against the racist policies of the Bandaranayake regime at the Galleface green during 1956. The tamils learned the hardway that the majority of the Sinhala population does not understand anything but violence. Even today students,adults are disappearing only because they are tamils. Even tamil parlimentarians are killed in public places and places of worship. Tell me how many are arrested or convicted for these crimes. Even before the inquiries are started the top Police officer of the land gives a verdict against the LTTE. Does not these acts show who are really involved in these killings. Go on bury your heads in the sand as deeper as you could and pretend nothing is happening around. This is not going to stop the process of change that is needed for the tamils. As I have mentioned elsewhere compare the days the tamil protestors who were taking cover from the thugs attacking them at the Galleface green during the year 1956 and the tamils of today who are fighting back a fully fledged army, navy and Airforce. Don’t you agree that the tamils have come a longway. Even if they are defeated the real looser will be the Sinhala Nation. ‘VICTORY IS NOT FINAL AND DEFEAT IS NOT FATAL.