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Photo: UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

20th anniversary | Responsibility to Protect

The year 2025 marks two decades since all Heads of State and Government unanimously adopted the responsibility to protect at the United Nations World Summit in 2005. The responsibility to protect was a strategic milestone, as a response to the tragic failure to prevent the commission of genocide and atrocity crimes in Rwanda and Srebrenica.

Twenty years later, the imperative to prevent atrocity crimes, and protect populations against them remains urgent. Atrocity crimes continue to inflict devastating and lasting harm, while vulnerable populations face heightened risks, now compounded by newly emerging challenges such as climate crisis, the weaponization and misuse of new technologies, rising hate speech, intolerance and the growing discrimination against minorities and identity groups worldwide.

Yet, the past two decades have also seen significant progress. The international community has deepened its understanding of atrocity risk factors, triggers and early warning signs. It has improved its capacity for early response, and accountability mechanisms have been considerably strengthened. From the UN to regional and sub-regional entities, national governments and institutions to civil society, and individuals, efforts to prevent and protect populations from atrocity crimes have grown more effective and determined.

As we reflect on two decades of the responsibility to protect, the need to uphold the core principles of the United Nations Charter is more pressing than ever. This twentieth anniversary offers a unique opportunity to renew our global commitment to prevent atrocity crimes and to redouble efforts to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleaning and crimes against humanity.

To mark the occasion, the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect seeks to highlight the wealth of experience and lessons learned globally in advancing prevention and protection.

The Special Adviser on the responsibility to protect extends sincere appreciation to all those who continue their important and courageous work in implementing the responsibility to protect through prevention and protection initiatives. She also wants to warmly thank the Member States, national human right entities, national prevention entities, and civil society actors who responded extensively to the survey realized at the occasion of this twentieth anniversary.

During the annual General Assembly debate, scheduled for 25 June, Member States are not only invited to share their reflections about the 2025 UNSG report on the responsibility to protect, but also about their experience in implementing the recommendations included in each annual report since 2009.