Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is a global political commitment adopted by all United Nations member states in 2005. It holds that the international community has a duty to prevent and respond to mass atrocity crimes such as genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. R2P is based on three core pillars:

• The state’s responsibility to protect its population,
• The international community’s role in assisting states in fulfilling this responsibility,
• The international community’s responsibility to take collective action through the United Nations when a state fails to protect its citizens.

• United Nations. (2005). 2005 World Summit Outcome Document (A/RES/60/1). Retrieved from https://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/generalassembly/docs/globalcompact/A_RES_60_1.pdf