International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD)

Volume 4 Issue 3, April 2020 Available Online: [Link] e-ISSN: 2456 – 6470

The Responsibility to Protect Doctrine:

Expectations and Reality
Mahfujur Rahman1, Md. Saifullah Akon2
1Lecturer, Department of International Relations, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka, Bangladesh
2Lecturer, Department of Japanese Studies, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT How to cite this paper: Mahfujur Rahman

Protection of citizens from violence and aggression is one of the basic | Md. Saifullah Akon "The Responsibility
responsibilities of a sovereign country. But sometimes states fail to comply to Protect Doctrine: Expectations and
with this responsibility. The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is a commitment Reality" Published in
which was adopted by the members of United Nations (UN) in 2005. This International Journal
doctrine aims at addressing four types of crimes; genocide, ethnic cleansing, of Trend in Scientific
war crimes and crimes against humanity. The R2P was adopted with a lot of Research and
expectations but the performance of the R2P has faced criticisms over the Development
years. (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-
6470, Volume-4 | IJTSRD30314
KEYWORDS: R2P, United Nations, Ethnic Cleansing, Humanitarian Intervention, Issue-3, April 2020,
Genocide pp.197-199, URL:
[Link]/papers/[Link]

Copyright © 2020 by author(s) and

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1. INTRODUCTION
It has been around 14 years since the United Nations (UN) with the state itself. And when a state is unable or unwilling
adopted the doctrine of ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P). to perform this responsibility, the international community
When the doctrine was adopted, expectations were high must take the responsibility to ensure safety and security of
considering its aim was to protect citizens around the world the citizens of that state. After some further developments, at
from violence and aggression. The expectations grew higher the 2005 UN World Summit meeting, member states finally
after this doctrine met with some initial successes. But with adopted the principle of the responsibility to protect
thousands of people dead in different civil conflicts around doctrine.
the globe in recent times, it is clear that the doctrine of R2P
could not go beyond criticisms. The R2P aims at protecting populations from genocide, war
crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. R2P
2. The Responsibility to Protect Doctrine (R2P) stipulates three pillars of responsibility:
The world has experienced atrocities in the 1990s in the A. Pillar 1: Every state has the responsibility to protect its
Balkans and Rwanda, which the international community populations from four mass atrocity crimes: genocide,
failed to prevent. A serious debate emerged among the war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic
members of international community on how to react to cleansing.
events of human rights violations. Kofi Annan in his 2000 B. Pillar 2: The wider international community has the
Millennium Report, said: “if humanitarian intervention is, responsibility to encourage and assist individual states
indeed, an unacceptable assault on sovereignty, how should in meeting that responsibility.
we respond to a Rwanda, to a Srebrenica, to gross and C. Pillar 3: If a state is manifestly failing to protect its
systematic violation of human rights that offend every populations, the international community must be
precept of our common humanity?” prepared to take appropriate collective action, in a
timely and decisive manner and in accordance with the
The concept of the R2P was inspired by Francis Deng’s idea UN Charter.
of “State sovereignty as a responsibility.” According to Deng,
sovereignty is not just protection from outside interference, 3. The United Nations Security Council’s Role in R2P
rather is a matter of states having positive responsibilities The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is the most
for their population’s safety and welfare. For this reason, the powerful organ within the United Nations (UN) system. The
primary responsibility for the protection of its people rest UNSC is the only organ within UN which is given the

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) @ [Link] eISSN: 2456-6470
authority of military actions by the UN Charter. The UNSC 4.2. Syria
welcomed the R2P in a resolution of its own one month after Syria is another country which got lit with the fire of revolts
the World Summit ended, portraying the importance of during the Arab Spring. In fact, Syria has been suffering since
cooperation between the UN and regional organizations in 2011 when the crisis first began there. Like other Arabian
maintaining international peace and security. In April 2006, countries, protest in Syria began in early 2011 against the
the Security Council adopted Resolution 1674, which regime of President Bashar al-Assad. Assad government
reaffirmed the ‘responsibility’ to protect populations from responded with brutality, directing his security forces to
genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against open fire on protesters signaling the regime’s intention to
humanity. use violence against its own civilians. The Syrian
government also imposed a total media blackout, preventing
The Security Council is integral in implementing the international journalists from entering the country and
international community’s timely and decisive R2P response detaining local journalists who covered the protests. On
when an R2P crisis emerges. Pillar three of the R2P asserts August 3, 2011, after nearly five months of the Syrian
that the international community, through the United regime’s relentless attacks on its own population, the
Nations will use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and Security Council issued its first formal statement
other peaceful means, in accordance with Chapters of the UN condemning the use of force against civilians. The Security
Charter to protect people from atrocities. But when peaceful Council met to consider a draft resolution that would have
and diplomatic measures will fail, the Security Council will condemned the Syrian government’s abuses and raised the
have a bigger role to play as the authorization of military specter of future sanctions, the measure was ultimately
interventions is only given to the UNSC. So, it is easy to vetoed by China and Russia, who judged inaction to be in
understand that humanitarian military intervention is only their best interest given their economic and political
possible if the Security Council agrees to allow it during a relationships with the al-Assad regime. That was just the
crisis situation. For this reason, the implementation of R2P beginning of the deadlock in implementing R2P in Syria.
requires the Security Council’s willingness and the Gradually the war got escalated and more people died. But
unanimity among the five permanent members with veto the Security Council could not come with a unanimous
power. decision to implement humanitarian intervention in Syria to
protect the civilians there. Till September 2019, Russia
4. The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) in Practice vetoed UNSC resolutions on Syrian Crisis for 13 times since
The implementation of R2P by the United Nations Security the beginning of the crisis. As a result, the sufferings of
council has had both success and failure experiences since its Syrian people did not end Just because the permanent
inception. Now it is time to evaluate the performance of R2P members of the Security Council could not take a unanimous
in three recent humanitarian crises which took place in the decision.
last ten years in three different countries.
4.3. Myanmar
4.1. Libya Recent exodus of Rohingyas from the Rakhine State of
Libya was one of the countries which went through political Myanmar is undoubtedly one of the biggest humanitarian
crisis during the period of Arab Spring. In early 2011, Libyan crises ever. The surge of violence against the Rohingya
people began their protest against the regime of Colonel minorities of Rakhine state forced almost a million
Muammar Gaddafi. The demonstrations started in Benghazi Rohingyas to flee to Bangladesh since late August of 2017,
first, later it spread throughout the country. Gaddafi regime making it more urgent than ever. In February 2017, The
responded with extreme cruelty engaging massive use of Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN
force against his own people. During the ongoing crisis, the Human Rights) expressed concern that the clearing
League of Arab States held an emergency meeting and operations are a systematic and widespread government
suspended Libya’s membership. The United Nations Security policy of ethnic cleansing. The reported crimes committed by
Council also issued a press statement welcoming the government forces include against the Rohingya Muslims are
League’s position and condemning Gaddafi’s repression of extrajudicial executions or other killings, including by
the demonstrators. Moreover, Resolution 1970 was adopted random shooting, enforced disappearance and arbitrary
On February 26, 2011by the Security Council in which it detention, rape, looting and occupation of property etc. The
condemned the violence and use of force against Libyan Security Council has not invoked R2P regarding the recent
people. But the Gaddafi regime did not show any intention to crisis in Myanmar yet, neither any resolution was brought
reduce the aggression against the protesters which further for voting. There has not been an invocation of the doctrine
brought immediate attentions from regional and by the Security Council because of Russia and China’s
international community. Finally, The Security Council continued insistence that Myanmar’s internal conflict does
adopted Resolution 1973 on March 17, 2011, expressing the not threaten international peace and security. In 2018,
Security Council’s determination to ensure the protection of United Kingdom prepared a draft resolution for the Security
civilians and civilian populated areas. Acting on the Council to facilitate the repatriation of the Rohingyas who
resolution, NATO began bombing on Gaddafi’s forces and took refuge in Bangladesh after the recent atrocities. But
armed bases. By August 2011, rebels took control of Tripoli both China and Russia boycotted talks on a British-drafted
and declared a victory for the revolution. Following the rebel resolution.
victory, Security Council Resolution 2016 ended the no-fly
zone and authorization for use of force to protect Libyan 5. Conclusion
civilians. Meanwhile, Gaddafi was captured and killed in The implementation of R2P has experienced different
Libya on October 20, 2011. It is true that there is controversy outcomes in different crises. Libya and similar cases show
about NATO’s engagement in the R2P mandate, But Security how R2P played a vital role to end violence and aggression
Council’s R2P engagement in Libya is mostly seen as a against civilians. But it is a sad truth that the sufferings of
success.

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 International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) @ [Link] eISSN: 2456-6470
innocent people in both Syria and Myanmar could not make Protect: A Review of Past Interventions and
the international community take unanimous decision under Recommendations for Improvement,” Chicago Journal
R2P to save them from brutality. Humanity has always of International Law, Vol 18, No 2.
suffered in a world where interest determines everything.
[5] Rahman, Mahfujur & MD. Saifullah Akon (2019):
“Geopolitical Economy of Myanmar and the Role of
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