Discussion Evening Manchester - Responsibility to Protect

Discussion Evening - 18th September 2008, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Imperial War Museum North

Military Humanitarianism and the Responsibility to Protect: Righting a Wrong?

‘The responsibility to protect’ (R2P) was first discussed in a report of the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, in 2001. It grew out of frustration with the experiences in Somalia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Kosovo in the 1990s, and was unanimously accepted at the UN World Summit in September 2005.

The report states “Where a population is suffering serious harm, as a result of internal war, insurgency, repression or state failure, and the state in question is unwilling or unable to halt or avert it, the principle of non-intervention yields to international responsibility to protect”. This is a controversial recommendation as it challenges state sovereignty, the basis of world order and international relations. 

Given recent events in Burma / Myanmar, the issue of R2P is particularly topical. This discussion will examine the issues underlying R2P and the different perspectives on interventionism, examining how R2P relates to the fieldwork of humanitarian organisations like MSF.

A number of speakers will be present, including:

• Rony Brauman, Director of the MSF Foundation and former President of MSF France.

• Dr James Pattison, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, University of the West of England

• Major General Alan Hawley, Director General of Army Medical Services
  

This event is being organised in cooperation with the Imperial War Museum North.

DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND, REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT IS NOW CLOSED.

SORRY FOR ANY DISAPPOINTMENT THIS MAY CAUSE.