Responsibility to protect. Balancing national interests and international obligations through multilateralism

Abstract

Responsibility to Protect is yet another step in post war evolution of international response against genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. Author analyses the concept of R2P through the lens of balancing national interests of the UN Member States (state security, human security, budgetary balance, independence) with international values (solidarity, human rights, peace, security). Author underlines that global responses and actions to prevent and end mass atrocities still lack comprehensive and unified approach. Due to diverse interests of each state, international community faces problems dealing with consequences of atrocities. Author believes that states as individual members of international community are bound to redefine their national interests from the perspective of international community’s responsibility to protect populations from mass atrocities. Such redefinition should be facilitated by the UN through promotion of effective multilateral approach towards R2P implementation.