240701 - UNGA: Open Debate on the Responsibility to Protect

 

Thank you, Mr President.

I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of CANZ: Canada, New Zealand and my own country, Australia.

I thank the Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, Ms Mô Bleeker, for presenting the UN Secretary-General’s thematic report for 2024.

We welcome her appointment and look forward to supporting her in her role.

This debate provides an important moment for us to reflect on the political and moral commitment we unanimously made 19 years ago – to prevent and protect populations from atrocity crimes.

Yet despite our efforts, we continue to see the perpetration of atrocities in numerous situations around the world.

The Secretary-General’s latest report outlines worrying global trends.

Of particular concern, it notes that Member States have sometimes met early warning or evidence of atrocity crimes with indifference, denial, or even active repression.

We cannot allow these trends to continue.

CANZ believes Responsibility to Protect can continue to make an important contribution to protecting our populations.

We are aware of concerns around the intention of R2P.

In this regard, we wish to make the following three key points:

First, we note there is wide acceptance by Member States of pillars one and two.

And we underscore the important role the Human Rights Council and the International Court of Justice play in contributing to these atrocity prevention objectives. 

Pillar three calls on the international community to respond with timely and decisive action if a state is manifestly failing to meet its protection responsibilities.

This can and should be achieved through negotiation, capacity building and mediation.

We stress that military force is a last resort and must be exercised in accordance with the UN Charter.

Second, CANZ believes R2P should not be seen as a threat to sovereignty.

Rather, we see it as the responsible exercise of sovereignty by Member States in order to protect their populations.

Third, we need practical guidance and concrete measures that states can take to protect populations from atrocity crimes, at home and abroad.

This is why Australia commissioned the R2P Framework for Action, which provides practical actions all states can take to build resilience and implement R2P.

We urge Member States to use this framework.

We also urge the Secretary-General to make – and follow up on – specific R2P recommendations, and to address atrocity risks in specific country situations.

Now more than ever, we must continue to promote and defend our collective political commitment to the principle of R2P and its implementation.

We must uphold our common and shared humanity.

Thank you.