R2P Civil Society Perspectives

 

 

See our page summarizing yesterday’s dialogue: We’ll be uploading govt statements as we receive them.

A big thank you to those who joined us for our event yesterday on . You can follow the conversation .

UN Special Adviser on Jennifer Welsh speaking at our event! Watch her keynote address:

Some of the panels from this morning are ready to watch now!

Miss any part of today’s event? will have video of panels up later this week!

panel

Concluding today’s event, Michèle Auga reflects on future challenges for amidst current challenges (Syria) and uncertainties

Tibi Galis: Very grateful to organizers for making this discussion on civil society work, focused on prevention, possible.

says dominated discussions, yet „embarrassing paralysis“ in remains

Edwin: IDPs who are ex-combatants need more attention, many unemployed. Politicians often use them for their ends.

Kirimi: our system in not designed for specific groups like refugees. Was for every person to be a monitor.

Question: what is the role of refugees in fact-finding missions?

Kirimi: has been highly politicized, doesn’t know where line is between politics and judiciary

Question to Kirimi: how will withdrawal from affect atrocity prevention?

Live: reader chat on investigation

Jack Goldsmith: „White House Counsel’s Legal Justification for Syria Intervention.“

What would the Godfather do? Graham Allison on how to put a horse’s head between Bashir and Asma’s silk sheets

Kenya week at the ICC. Here’s your backgrounder on Ruto and Sang.

Kirimi: has established a „platform for peace“, an early warning and prevention mechanism

Steve Kirimi: challenges: absence of official opposition, as Kenya had a coalition government

Kirimi: deeply engaged in Kenya’s Truth, Justice and Reconc. Comm., constitutional review, national coalition on integration

Enter „RWP“ RT : Gareth Evans: „ down but not out of and “

Steve Kirimi: discussion began on institutional reforms, tackling poverty, youth unemployment, achieving national cohesion

Steve Kirimi: Kenya then engaged in a dialogue, agreements made on how to move forward on future prevention strategies.

Alejandra Diaz: Case of Rios Mott bears enormous significance for the country, for battle against impunity, reconciliation, etc.

. By conventional weapons supplied by Russian, i would add.

Alejandra Diaz: CALDH assisted in investigations on genocide before judicial cases

Valnora Edwin: challenges are lack of political will, civil society themselves divided, independence of judiciary questionable

Valnora Edwin: lessons learned: early warning strategies essential, not to oversee government but rather support them to deliver

Valnora Edwin: to promote good governance, we work with state actors, promote transparency of public officials, reviewing constitution,

| Participant: „What is the future of given the situation in Syria?“

Valnora Edwin: post conflict intervention: DDR process, hybrid Special court. Debatable how well these have brought justice

Valnora Edwin: causes of Sierra Leone war–unequal resource distribution, discrimination of vulnerable groups, corruption, etc.

„The big test lies with national governments for long term prevention“ Tibi Galis

| Dr. Welsh: „it’s a concern of many but veto is issue of security council reform in general should careful about mixing the two“

– „Do you see potential restraint of the Security Council veto in situations of mass atrocities and genocide?“

„While difficult time for , I don’t see it going away…A concept that is now part of landscape in intl affairs“ – J. Welsh

Dr. welsh: hugely important tool, and principle of complementarity and intersect. Helps with pillar I impl.

Question: how do you See Rome Statute as deterrent and tool of ?

Dr. Welsh: issue of veto is core issue of Security Council. Shouldn’t necessarily link this to changing on working methods.

Dr. Welsh: opportunity within our office to explore working methods of Council .

Dr. Welsh: responsibility while protecting mostly about accountability. Evolving working methods of SC can be worthwhile in this

Dr. Welsh: must understand what makes tools successful, because they won’t work everywhere.

Bill Pace question: can you comment on a crimes approach to .

| : „How do you see social media tools/ digital technology as a means of early warning/prevention?“

Dr. Welsh: but cannot deny that human rights are key to prevention mass atrocities, intersection challenging but must take it on

Dr. Welsh: some states believe belongs to SC and human rights not under Council jurisdiction.

Question: how do you see work of Commissions of Inquiries, treaty bodies, etc in your mandate?

Dr. welsh: must consider use of technology in strategy. Prevention potentially involves intrusive aspects.

: much incitement online. Do you interpret your mandate at looking at early warning signals online?

3m

Dr. Welsh:RtoP future lies in remembering how norm been acted on in and in engaging more w/ SC, reminding them of .

Dr. Welsh: in been acted on for 2 years. Many actors have taken their RtoP very seriously in the crisis.

Question to Dr. Welsh: what is the future of in light of events in ?

Jennifer Welsh: Need targeted approaches across mandates towards : part of our commitment to the norm.

Jennifer Welsh: looking for links w/other crucial aspects of UN: human rights, conflict prevention, and protection of civilians.

Jennifer Welsh: we will need civil society support in the advancement of –not proceeding at same pace in all regions.

Jennifer Welsh: should consider whether should be considered under formal agenda of GA.

Jennifer Welsh: must look forward to next steps in implementation. Perhaps time for GA to consider 2nd pillar more deeply.

Jennifer Welsh: must make prevention under a reality and operational. UNSG rep highlights how states have impl their RtoP.

Jennifer Welsh: My priorities are on norm development and institutional development. Still much work needed on education.

Jennifer Welsh: believe work of civil society instrumental in shaping state contributions in GA dialogues on .

Jennifer Welsh: hope upcoming GA debate will urge states to take greater ownership of their .

Noel Morada: major challenge is promoting 3 pillars of , some states still getting used to idea they have human rights

Question: what is role in post-conflict situations? Many survivors still have no access to justice/resources.

Amb of : Econ aspect of config of Burundi can play huge role in conflict prevention

: US govt has a few officers dedicated to atrocity prevention, hope to see more movement on this

FLASHBACK: How Russia Has Blocked International Action On Syria via

Bill Pace question: How can we find ways to make dev. assistance more effective in atrocity prevention?

 

: active involvement by women Parliamentarians in hearings under Genocide Prevention Group, esp w/ country cases

 

Question for panel: how do you engage with women’s groups for your objectives?

 

First panel Q & A: institutionalization of –will it continue after those currently in government leave office?

Read about oGR’s newest theme: and –newest op-ed by GCR2P Board chair Gareth Evans

Russia proposes putting Syria chemical arms under global control

Rev Godda: religious wars dangerous, as they’re wars of the heart. Must avoid politicization of religion.

Navi Pillay’s Opening Statement to ’s 24th Session

holding annual dialogue on this Wed. See the ’s 2013 report on R2P: State responsibility & prevention

Follow discusses for our monday event on atrocity prevent via twitter . Get involved in the discussion

This Monday, Sept 9, tune in for event on state resp for & watch online ! -use hashtag

On CW, says no impunity for crimes against humanity but action taken must be w/in framewrk of UN Charter

 

The United Nations Security Council is the ostensible source for recognizing the conditions for the responsibility to protect. Yet the Security Council repeatedly fails to respond, in part because of the well-understood dynamic between the P3 on the one side and Russia and China on the other. An ineffective Security Council means, unsurprisingly, that any responsibility to protect will depend on strong states to preserve human security.

 

A UN General Assembly end-run around the Security Council?

Western navel-gazers: When you ignore 100K Syrian deaths but protest possible US strikes, it’s a bit late to say you’re rallying for peace.

100K Syrians die, no vigil. US might intervene, mass rally. RT : Vatican: 100K attend Syria peace vigil

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council#Responsibility_to_protect

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Responsibility_to_protect

 

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