R2P in Focus R2P in Focus is a monthly publication from the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect designed to highlight recent events and political developments concerning the Responsibility to Protect (R2P).
R2P and the UN Human Rights Council
The 34th regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) will take place from 27 February to 24 March in Geneva. By following situations across the globe, the HRC can identify widespread and systematic violations of human rights, including those with the potential to deteriorate into mass atrocity situations. As such, the HRC and its mechanisms – including the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), Special Procedures, and Commissions of Inquiry - play a critical role in highlighting the need for effective early action to prevent mass atrocity crimes. Since 2008, the HRC has adopted over
20 resolutions referring to R2P, including several resolutions on Syria and on the Prevention of Genocide. During 2015 a governmental Group of Friends of R2P was also launched in Geneva with 50 members. During the upcoming HRC session, members will discuss several human rights situations where populations remain at risk of mass atrocity crimes, including Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Myanmar, South Sudan and Syria. As the HRC assesses these situations, members will hear briefings by UN Special Procedures with various country and thematic mandates, including testimony
by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar on her recent visit to the country. They will also receive updates from HRC-authorized Commissions of Inquiry. During the 34th session the HRC is also scheduled to adopt the outcomes of the UPRs of South Sudan and Syria. In 2015 the Global Centre opened an office in Geneva, expanding its efforts to advance the institutionalization of R2P within the UN’s Geneva-based institutions, particularly the HRC. In doing so, the Global Centre seeks the consistent implementation of R2P within the UN’s human rights pillar, and is working to strengthen the link between human rights and peace and security. For more on the Global Centre’s work in Geneva see our
website.
7th Annual Meeting of the
Global Network of R2P Focal Points On 24-25 April the State of Qatar, in coordination with the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, will host the 7th Annual Meeting of the Global Network of R2P Focal Points. The meeting is the first of its kind to be held in the Middle East.
- Joint NGO letter: UNHRC should renew and strengthen mandate of the Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan. On 23 February the Global Centre, together with 35 other NGOs, released an open letter
ahead of the upcoming 34th session of the HRC. The letter urges HRC members to strengthen the UN Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan and to address the lack of accountability for crimes under international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Joint NGO letter on the upcoming Syrian peace talks in Geneva. On 21 February the Global Centre and 39 other NGOs released a joint letter
ahead of the upcoming Syrian peace negotiations in Geneva. The letter calls for parties to the talks to prioritize ending unlawful attacks on civilians, allowing humanitarian access, and ensuring safe passage for fleeing civilians.
- Joint NGO letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres about the situation in Myanmar's Rakhine State. On 16 February the Global Centre, together with seven other NGOs, released a joint letter
to UN Secretary-General António Guterres regarding the situation in Myanmar. The letter requested the Secretary-General personally urge the government of Myanmar to support the establishment of an international independent investigation into the allegations of atrocities committed against the Rohingya in Rakhine state.
- Global Centre’s response to United States President Donald Trump’s refugee ban.
On 27 January President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning nationals of seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The order also halted the country’s refugee program, effectively barring those fleeing atrocities in Syria, Iraq, Myanmar and elsewhere from resettlement in the United States. In response to the so-called “Muslim ban,” the Global Centre released a statement condemning the order and calling for its immediate repeal. The Global Centre also published an assessment
of six of the countries that were barred under the order, highlighting the impact of the refugee freeze on populations affected by mass atrocities. On 9 February, in response to the executive order, Global Centre Executive Director Dr. Simon Adams published an op-ed in Huffington Post entitled, “George Orwell Versus Donald J. Trump’s Muslim Ban.”
- Statement by Adama Dieng, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide on the situation in South Sudan.
On 6 February Special Adviser Dieng released a statement condemning the recent surge of violence in South Sudan.
- Statement by Adama Dieng, UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide following OHCHR's report on the situation in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar. On 6 February Special Adviser Dieng released a
statement on the violence against the Rohingya in Myanmar. He urged the government to immediately halt discriminatory practices against the Rohingya and to allow for an independent and impartial investigation.
27 February - 24 March 34th Session of the Human Rights Council
15 March Sixth Anniversary of the Conflict in Syria
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