International Relations Humanitarian Interventions Questions
The responsibility to protect (R2P) principle is a concept in international relations that asserts that states have a responsibility to protect their populations from mass atrocities, including genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. It also recognizes that when a state is unable or unwilling to protect its own population, the international community has a responsibility to intervene and protect those at risk. R2P emphasizes the importance of prevention, timely and decisive action, and the use of diplomatic, humanitarian, and if necessary, military means to protect vulnerable populations. It was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005 and has since become an important norm in international relations.