With more than 120 million people currently displaced by conflict, persecution and atrocities, as well as the highest number of violent conflicts since the Second World War, upholding the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is more important than ever. At a time when violations and abuses of human rights continue to rise, R2P continues to be the most effective principle around which the international community can coalesce when vulnerable populations face the threat of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

Next September will mark 20 years since states gathered at the 2005 UN World Summit and unanimously adopted R2P, establishing a global commitment to prevent and protect populations from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. In commemoration of this milestone and to mark the commencement of R2P’s 20th year, this year’s Evans-Sahnoun Lecture will featured a panel of past and current UN Special Advisers on R2P. The meeting was opened by the Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations, H.E. Fergal Mythen and Global Centre Executive Director, Savita Pawnday. Remarks by Global Centre International Advisory Board co-Chair, Professor the Hon Gareth Evans followed, encouraging the international community to continue to defend the core principles of the responsibility to protect. The Special Advisers then discussed normative progress and key lessons learned over the past 20 years, the role of the multilateral system and ways to strengthen atrocity prevention. They also reflected on enduring challenges and how we can intensify collective efforts to consistently protect civilians from mass atrocity crimes wherever and whenever they are threatened.