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UN principle of the 'Responsibility to Protect' (R2P). Recommandation to the Council

2012/2143(INI)

Pursuant to Rule 121(1) of the Rules of Procedure of the European Parliament, Frieda BREPOELS (Greens/EFA, BE) propose, on behalf of the ALDE group, a draft recommendation of the European Parliament on the UN principle of the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P).

To recall, paragraphs 138 and 139 of the UN World Summit Outcome Document establish the obligation of states to protect their citizens against atrocities and the obligation of the international community to react in a measured way, should states fail to protect their citizens against genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, as covered by the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. This concept is based on three pillars: (i) the protection responsibilities of the state; (ii) international assistance and capacity-building to assist states; (iii) a timely and decisive collective response when pillars one and two fail.

It is also recalled that more recent experience with specific crises shows mixed results with international efforts under pillar two. The first example of a global effort under pillar three – the UN Security Council-approved military intervention in Libya – has saved many lives but has also clearly highlighted questions relating to the R2P concept which need further refinement.

The draft recommendation states that the emergence of the UN principle of R2P represents an important step forward towards a more peaceful world by strengthening compliance with universal human rights norms and international humanitarian law. It must be rendered sufficiently legitimate and regulated as to remove the suspicion of some governments that it can serve as an instrument of foreign interference.

Accordingly, the following recommendations are addressed to the Council:

  • fine-tune the R2P concept in cooperation with other state actors who wish to improve the capacities of the international community to prevent atrocities, such as the BRICS proposal initiated by Brazil entitled ‘Responsibility while Protecting’;
  • lay the basis for an interinstitutional consensus on R2P to be adopted jointly by the Council, the EEAS, the Commission and the European Parliament;
  • do everything in its power to further develop preventive diplomacy and mediation, at EU level as well as within the UN, and to develop tools that can also be put to use by the UN;
  • check policy planning and capability development in the context of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) against the goal of creating EU capacities that are compatible with UN needs to provide better protection of human rights and to prevent war and atrocities.