Doctrine of the Responsibility to Protect

The Doctrine of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is an international commitment ensuring that governments protect their populations from severe harm like genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. When a government fails to do so or is itself the source of harm, the global community has a moral and sometimes legal obligation to intervene, through measures such as diplomacy, sanctions, or military action, to prevent or stop these atrocities. R2P emphasizes that sovereignty includes responsibilities to protect citizens’ basic rights and well-being.