UN Secretary-General: Responsibility for Protection is More Important Than Ever

New York, June 7 (KUNA) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed on Monday that the commitment to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) has become more important than ever, as conflicts have become longer-lasting and more complex, warning that the world is witnessing widespread violations of international law and a growing sense of impunity. This was stated in a speech delivered by Guterres at a meeting of the UN General Assembly to review the Secretary-General’s report on the progress made over two decades since the adoption of the “Responsibility to Protect” principle, a commitment made by world leaders at the 2005 World Summit to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.

In his address, read on his behalf by Earl Ratray, Head of the Office of the Secretary-General, Guterres said, “The Responsibility to Protect sends a clear message: it is the fundamental responsibility of every state to protect its people.” He added that his report clearly reaffirms the responsibility of states to ensure constructive and sustainable cooperation with affected communities, civil society organizations, regional and sub-regional organizations, and the United Nations, as well as providing inspiring examples of national, regional, and institutional leadership in implementing this commitment.

He warned that technology exacerbates the threat, as new advanced weapons—including drones—can inflict severe harm on civilians, while hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation spread rapidly online. Guterres further noted that the report calls for strengthening the Responsibility to Protect through investment in national prevention programs, building partnerships with civil society, and integrating atrocity prevention into peacebuilding, conflict prevention, mediation, preventive diplomacy, and security, human rights, and accountability frameworks at both the regional and international levels.

He considered that the Responsibility to Protect represents a practical pathway for prevention and peace, requiring early action before risk indicators escalate into mass atrocities. He emphasized that preventing the recurrence of such crimes requires establishing truth, justice, accountability, reparations, and institutional reform, alongside the meaningful participation of survivors. (End) E.S.T. / M.A.H.A.