Timor-Leste Emphasizes the Importance of R2P in Preventing Mass Atrocities

New York, 1 July 2024 – Ambassador Dionisio da Costa Babo Soares, the Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the UN in New York, presented a statement during the Debate on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P). Timor-Leste emphasized the critical nature of the R2P, which asserts each government’s duty to shield its people from mass atrocities and human rights abuses. The unanimous endorsement of this responsibility at the 2005 UN World Summit underscores its importance in preventing grave crimes such as genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.

Timor-Leste considers R2P not just a theoretical concept but a moral obligation enshrined in international law. Its efficient implementation involves proactive measures like holding perpetrators accountable and establishing robust protection mechanisms for at-risk groups, strengthening legal frameworks, improving early warning systems, and fostering peaceful societies.

Timor-Leste emphasized that for small nations, the R2P principle holds particular significance, providing a framework to ensure the safety of their citizens during complex humanitarian crises or mass atrocities. It underscores the importance of collective security and solidarity among nations, regardless of their size or influence, offering assurance and a channel for seeking assistance in times of crisis.

Acknowledging the three pillars of R2P – state responsibility to protect its citizens, international support for states, and international obligation to intervene when a state fails to act – is essential. Maintaining a balance between intervention and respect for national sovereignty is crucial in effectively addressing humanitarian crises while upholding human rights and preventing the politicization of the R2P concept.