R2P

Or R·to P

[ahr-tuh-pee]

abbreviation

1. responsibility to protect: the global principle that nations have an obligation to protect their populations against genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity, and that the international community must assist if necessary.

   The United Nations invoked R2P to authorize delivery of humanitarian aid.

Word History and Origins

Origin of R2P¹

First recorded in 2005, following the United Nations' World Summit

Example Sentences

Many carried signs reading, “R2P,” or “Responsibility to Protect,” referring to a 2005 United Nations doctrine affirming the responsibility of nations to shield populations from egregious crimes.

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Pro-democracy protesters carried signs that read “R2P,” or “Responsibility to Protect,” referring to a 2005 United Nations doctrine affirming the responsibility of nations to protect populations from such egregious crimes.

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In the past decade, skepticism has grown about R2P, particularly since the 2011 intervention in Libya which left a power vacuum that ultimately destabilized the country.

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“You do not see them holding U.N. or R2P posters anymore,” said Theo, who has been sharing information online and following the situation.

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Four years later, at the U.N.’s 2005 World Summit, R2P was unanimously adopted.

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