R2P Principles

The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is a global commitment that states that governments have a duty to protect their citizens from mainly genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. If a country fails to do so or is the source of such violence, the international community has an obligation to intervene, often through diplomatic means or, as a last resort, military action. R2P emphasizes that sovereignty includes responsibilities, and protecting populations from severe harm is a shared international priority.