Whose Responsibility?: Responsibility to Protect and the Role of the Security Council

Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is a novel concept. Adopted in 2005, it nevertheless attracted ample controversy within a short span of time. The present Secretary General of the United Nations is committed to see R2P in action. R2P is still a concept and is yet to be fully understood and developed. Its scope and limits are not clear yet. It has both supporters and critics. Supporters of R2P see it as a doctrine-- an emerging norm, a revolutionary concept in international law; while critics argue that it reinforces humanitarian intervention and is a threat to national sovereignty-a new means of colonialism. R2P is deeply rooted in the already existing international legal system. It in fact, strengthens sovereignty. It does reinforce humanitarian intervention using force only under the auspices of the Security Council and condemns unilateral intervention. Security Council is the key player as it is vested with the responsibility to ensure international peace and security. The thesis analyses the role of the Security Council in putting R2P into action and suggests methods that the Council should consider.