Norms of protection

Angus Francis, Vesselin Popovski, C. J. G. Sampford

"A series of humanitarian tragedies in the 1990s (Somalia, 1992-1994; Rwanda, 1994; Srebrenica, 1995; Kosovo, 1999) demonstrated the failure of the international community to protect civilians in the context of complex emergencies. These brought to life two norms of protection -- Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and Protection of Civilians (POC) -- both deeply rooted in the empathy that human beings have for the suffering of innocent people. The norms have achieved high-level endorsement: R2P from the 2005 World Summit Outcome document (Art. 138-140) and POC from a series of Security Council resolutions. The two norms of protection were instrumental in adopting Security Council Resolutions 1970 and 1973 (Libya), and 1975 (Cote d'Ivoire) in 2011. Both norms raise concerns of misinterpretation and misuse. They are developing -- sometimes in parallel, sometimes diverging and sometimes...