Mr. President,

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of members of the Group of Friends of the Responsibility to Protect. whose membership includes over fifty delegations from every region of the world.

The adoption of the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document, which recognized R2P, reflected a historic commitment to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing.

Human Rights Mechanisms play an important role in advancing preventive action. Special Procedures can contribute to early warning of atrocity risk factors; the UPR has opened space for dialogue on how to strengthen national resilience; and HRC-mandated investigative mechanisms can help to achieve accountability and serve as an important deterrent of further atrocity crimes.

As we commemorate the 20^th anniversary of R2P, the Group of Friends renews our commitment to the Responsibility to Protect and to realizing the potential of the HRC in preventing and responding to atrocity crimes. We also urge the Office of the Special Advisers to share its early warning assessments and recommendations with the wider UN membership, including the HRC.

We ask the expert speakers: “How can we strengthen the linkages between the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and R2P and the HRC to ensure early warning translates into early action?”

Thank you.