The Responsibility to Protect

April 18, 2008
In a speech at the opening of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, United Nation Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke about the need for the international community to take action when confronted with evidence of genocide, ethnic cleansing and war crimes.
Discussion Questions: 
  • What does the phrase "responsibility to protect" mean?
  • Who is responsible for stopping genocide? What obligation does the international community have to intervene?
  • How can the international community protect victims of war crimes?
  • What would be required to ensure that nations are held accountable for protecting victims of genocide, ethnic cleansing and war crimes?