R2P in Focus: September 2025
- The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
- Sep 30
- 4 min read
R2P in Focus is a monthly publication by the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect highlighting recent events and publications on mass atrocity prevention and R2P.
RECENT RELEASES MARKING R2P'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Opening of the 80th UN General Assembly
The opening of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly provided an opportunity for member states to reaffirm their commitment to prevent and protect vulnerable populations from mass atrocity crimes throughout the world. During the high-level week, the Global Centre participated in a number of events and bilateral meetings with Deputy Ministers and Directors, as well as with civil society and affected populations.
Ministerial Meeting on the Responsibility to Protect at 20: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Prevent Atrocity Crimes
To commemorate the 20th anniversary of R2P, a ministerial-level meeting titled “The Responsibility to Protect at 20: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Prevent Atrocity Crimes” was held on 23 September on the sidelines of the opening of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. The event was convened by the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect and the Permanent Missions of Guatemala, Luxembourg and Morocco to the UN, with co-sponsorship from the Permanent Missions of Australia and Sierra Leone.
This high-level meeting brought together ministers, senior officials and key stakeholders to reflect on two decades of the evolution of R2P, assess the norm’s impact in preventing and responding to atrocity crimes and explore concrete actions to enhance early warning, prevention and response strategies.
Annual UNGA Breakfast with the Global Network of R2P Focal Points
On 26 September the Global Centre convened the annual breakfast meeting for members of the Global Network of R2P Focal Points who were in New York for UNGA. The discussion provided an opportunity for R2P Focal Points to reflect on key takeaways from high-level week and to consider how the ongoing UN80 reform process can strengthen multilateral efforts to prevent atrocities. The meeting featured insightful remarks from Chaloka Beyani, the newly appointed UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, and Mô Bleeker, UN Special Adviser on R2P.
To commemorate R2P's 20th anniversary, members of the Global Network of R2P Focal Points released a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to preventing atrocity crimes and strengthening international cooperation.
High-Level Engagement on Atrocity Prevention
Between 23 and 26 September our Executive Director, Savita Pawnday, and Global Centre staff held a series of bilateral meetings to discuss the implementation of R2P and atrocity prevention priorities in numerous country situations around the world. This includes meetings with Deputy Ministers from Norway and Slovenia, the Deputy State Secretary from Switzerland and Directors from France, the Netherlands and Qatar.
Eighth E10 and I5 Annual Dialogue
From 1–2 September Global Centre Executive Director Savita Pawnday participated in the eighth E10 and I5 Annual Dialogue, hosted by Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event brought together current and incoming elected members of the UN Security Council (E10 and I5) to strengthen cooperation on peace and security.
Savita led a discussion on the E10’s role in advancing R2P, with a focus on how the E10 can drive the Security Council’s response to serious violations of international law and strengthen efforts to protect civilians in conflict zones.
Urgent Call to Action: International Community Must Uphold the Responsibility to Protect the Palestinian People
As mass atrocities escalate across the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Global Centre calls for urgent international action. In our latest statement, we highlight the need for a coordinated response grounded in the Responsibility to Protect. Despite overwhelming evidence of mass atrocity crimes, including genocide, Israel continues to act with impunity amid a paralyzed UN Security Council. While some states have taken steps, such as pursuing legal avenues and imposing arms embargoes, a unified, global response is urgently needed. The statement outlines key actions governments must take now to uphold their moral, legal and political obligations.
Strengthening the Safety Net: Reflecting on 20 Years of the UN Human Rights Council and the Responsibility to Protect
In this new commentary, the Global Centre's Geneva Director, Elisabeth Pramendorfer, explores the critical role of the UN human rights system in preventing and responding to atrocity crimes. Elisabeth argues that if we are serious about upholding the Responsibility to Protect, we must recognize how vital our actions within the wider UN human rights system are – not only in shaping international responses, but in signaling solidarity with victims and issuing warnings to perpetrators.
New Episode of Expert Voices on Atrocity Prevention Podcast
In this episode, we sat down with Alexander Bellamy, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at The University of Queensland, Australia. During the episode, Alex shares insights from his extensive scholarship on R2P, including his collaboration with Edward Luck, the first UN Special Adviser on R2P. The conversation also explores the role of regional organizations in advancing R2P, the consequences of its uneven implementation and concludes with a message to the next generation of atrocity prevention scholars and practitioners.
Letter to UN Human Rights Council Members on Atrocity Prevention Priorities at the Council's 60th Session
On 8 September the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) began and continues until 8 October. The HRC plays an essential role in the prevention of mass atrocity crimes by responding to situations where populations are at risk of, or are experiencing, genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or ethnic cleansing. Ahead of the session, the Global Centre sent a letter to current HRC members, providing recommendations for country situations on the agenda where populations remain at risk of atrocity crimes, including in Burundi, Haiti, Sudan and Venezuela, among others.
More From the Global Centre
During the month of September the Global Centre published four issues of Atrocity Alert covering new atrocity risks and developments in the Central Sahel, China, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Myanmar (Burma), Sudan, Ukraine and education under attack.
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