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The Responsibility to Protect (R2P): Melbourne, 27-28 November 2009

Christ Lecture Theatre
Australian Catholic University (Melbourne Campus)
17 Young Street
Fitzroy VIC 3065

(Entrance adjacent to 115 Victoria Parade)

Registration fee: $250

Student concesssion (full-time students only): $125

Registrations close: 20 November 2009

Only 140 places are available

View the conference program

For more information: ils@acu.edu.au

Background

At the United Nations Summit in 2005, the worlds political leaders agreed to adopt the principle of the responsibility to protect. This principle, and its practice, is designed to ensure that every possible step is taken by individual nations, and by the international community, to ensure that mass atrocity crimes, such as those which occurred in Rwanda, Kosovo and East Timor, will not occur again.

In January 2009, the Secretary-General of the United Nations delivered a report to the UN General Assembly in which he fleshed out the meaning and operation of the new principle. Distinguishing it from the prior doctrine of humanitarian intervention, the report emphasized that the primary responsibility for preventing mass atrocities rested with the nation state concerned. However, where a state is unable or unwilling to take preventative steps, the responsibility must shift to the international community to ensure that genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or ethnic cleansing do not eventuate.

The purpose of this conference is to explain the parameters of this new principle of international law and political practice, to address the practicalities and problems of its implementation, to consider its potential application in the Asia-Pacific region, and to tackle again the vexed question of military intervention for humanitarian purposes.

The conference will be of interest to those concerned with international law, international relations, international aid and development, Asia-Pacific politics, and Australias role in ensuring security and well-being in our immediate region.

The conference will be opened by Gareth Evans AO, QC, formerly President of the International Crisis Group, and will include a presentation by Professor Ramesh Thakur, formerly Rector of the United Nations University. Both were instrumental in the conception and development of the responsibility to protect which is rapidly becoming a critical norm in international law and political practice.