<![CDATA[ the individual Responsibility to Protect - Blog]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:50:44 +0700Weebly<![CDATA[Challenges for re-hatted peacekeepers in Darfur]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:36:33 +0700http://www.ir2p.org/1/post/2008/07/challenges-for-re-hatted-peacekeepers-in-darfur.html

The Washington Post says the peacekeeping operation in Darfur is hobbled by inadequate numbers and equipment as well as bureaucratic hurdles:

"Logistical and bureaucratic obstacles imposed by the Sudanese government, which has tried to block the force from the start, have prevented the full deployment of the new battalions. But Western nations that pushed for the force have also caused delays by failing to provide basic equipment -- including helicopters, armored personnel carriers and trucks -- that the African countries providing most of the troops cannot afford. Officials say it costs about $45 million to equip one battalion."

]]><![CDATA[What hope for power sharing in Zimbabwe?]]>Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:26:34 +0700http://www.ir2p.org/1/post/2008/07/what-hope-for-power-sharing-in-zimbabwe.html

Africa Confidential discusses the situation in Zimbabwe, the prospects for power-sharing, the economy and sanctions.

]]><![CDATA[Denial of humanitarian relief: crime against humanity?]]>Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:21:03 +0700http://www.ir2p.org/1/post/2008/06/denial-of-humanitarian-relief-crime-against-humanity.htmlA few weeks ago, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner (a lifelong advocate of 'humanitarian intervention') invoked R2P when the Government of Burma/Myanmar appeared to be obstructing relief efforts in the wake of Cyclone Nargis.

However, when the French Ambassador to the UN requested abriefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation, even this overture was blocked by China and others.

When Kouchner's UK counterpart, David Miliband, voiced support in a BBC interview, critics, like the interviewer, worried that he was promoting military intervention.

A fair criticism of Kouchner's stance was that it would prove counterproductive - i.e. that it would derail ongoing efforts to persuade the Junta to open up access to humanitarian agencies.

A more fundamental objection, albeit with a different goal in mind, was voiced by R2P champions including Gareth Evans and Ramesh Thakur, was that the best chance of achieving consensus on the new norm is if it can only be invoked in relation to mass atrocity crimes.

As Gareth Evans acknowledged, deliberate denial of life-saving relief can constitute a crime against humanity: The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court refers not only to widespread or systematic attacks directed against civilians, but also to "Other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health".

All this demonstrates the different paths down which legal and political considerations can take us. At first glance, neither line of thought is of immediate practical use. It was inspiring to see that such debates didn't get in the way of decisive action by South African dockers to stop that shipment of arms from reaching Zimbabwe. (Or, for that matter, a remarkable relief effort in Burma.)

In crisis situations, the longer-term goal of consensus-building should not obscure clear thinking about how to best serve the interests of those immediately affected.

]]><![CDATA[Still no Darfur arrests]]>Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:26:48 +0700http://www.ir2p.org/1/post/2008/06/post-title-click-and-type-to-edit.html

A 17-minute video from Aegis Trust, in which survivors from villages attacked by Sudanese Government forces and Janjaweed militia in West Darfur directly implicate two men already indicted by the ICC on 51 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur: Ali Kushayb, a leader of the Janjaweed, and Ahmad Harun, Sudan’s current Humanitarian Affairs Minister.

The ICC's Chief Prosecutor says "the whole state apparatus" is involved in crimes against humanity in Darfur.

]]><![CDATA[Humanitarian vanities]]>Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:57:07 +0700http://www.ir2p.org/1/post/2008/06/humanitarian-vanities.html

In the New York Times Magazine, David Rieff examines the gap between principle and practice when it comes to humanitarian intervention, and asks a profound question:

"Are we talking about people in desperate need of aid or are we talking about ourselves when we debate such matters?"

]]><![CDATA["The West should get real"]]>Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:38:12 +0700http://www.ir2p.org/1/post/2008/06/the-west-should-get-real.htmlRamesh Thakur - one of the original R2P commissioners, is critical of suggestions to apply R2P to natural disasters.

He admits that the original report identified “overwhelming natural or environmental catastrophes, where the state concerned is either unwilling or unable to cope, and significant loss of life is occurring or threatened” as among the conscience-shocking situations justifying international intervention, but points out that this clause was not adopted by the UN.

Recent 'potential R2P situations', he says, include Darfur and Kenya. Ones that might arise include Nepal, Sri Lanka and North Korea. But "There is no crisis so dire that a war cannot make it worse."

Interestingly, his prescription is equally applicable to natural disasters, of which we can expect a lot more as our oceans get warmer:

"Our responses continue to be ad hoc and reactive, rather than consolidated, comprehensive and preventive. Actually acting in time and effectively when governments are guilty of mass killings should — must — form the intervention agenda of R2P. Sins of omission during natural and environmental disasters can be better handled under the prevention, persuasion and reconstruction formulations."

 "We need a “paradigm shift” from a culture of reaction to one of prevention and rebuilding which would pre-empt the need for military intervention."

]]><![CDATA[World food crisis]]>Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:34:48 +0700http://www.ir2p.org/1/post/2008/06/world-food-crisis.html

Video: appeal by Zainab Bangura, Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister (a former civil society activist)

Avaaz is organising a petition to world leaders at this week's emergency UN summit on the skyrocketing world food crisis: "There is a real danger that rich country leaders will push half measures and band-aid solutions – we need a huge global outcry to demand rapid, massive, coordinated action."

]]><![CDATA[Sudan's interlocking crises]]>Tue, 03 Jun 2008 02:26:51 +0700http://www.ir2p.org/1/post/2008/06/sudans-interlocking-crises.html

More help is at hand for those strugging to understand the complex situation in Sudan: pithy analysis from the Council on Foreign Relations

]]><![CDATA[Short films about Responsibility]]>Fri, 30 May 2008 08:37:48 +0700http://www.ir2p.org/1/post/2008/05/short-films-about-responsibility.html

The Responsibility Project: Series of short films on the theme of responsibility. Interesting case of a for-profit (insurance) firm getting philosophical.

]]><![CDATA[Against armed intervention in Darfur]]>Wed, 28 May 2008 11:08:44 +0700http://www.ir2p.org/1/post/2008/05/against-armed-intervention-in-darfur.htmlHe's nothing if not consistent. Alex De Waal continues to equate R2P with armed intervention, which he says would be counterproductive in Darfur.

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