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	Despite the unanimous commitment to end atrocity crimes, such crimes have increased around the world by Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect   The United Nations Secretary-General has issued the 17th report on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) titled “Responsibility to Protect: 20 years of commitment to principled and collective action.”   As the international community marks two decades since the adoption of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) at the 2005 World Summit, the Secretary-General reflects on a troubling trend: despite the unanimous commitment to end atrocity crimes, such crimes have increased around the world, exposing a persistent gap between promises and meaningful action, particularly in the world’s gravest cases.   The Secretary-General issues a stark warning, noting that continued failures to protect populations – despite our improved understanding of risk factors and enhanced capacity for response – denote a deeper, alarming challenge to mobilizing response.   To address these challenges, the Secretary-General emphasizes the urgent need for renewed strategic investment and consistent, collective international action, offering concrete recommendations to more effectively implement R2P’s three pillars moving forward.   The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect would like to highlight the following key points from the report:   The pattern of state and non-state actors acting with blatant and systematic disregard for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) continues to expand exponentially.   Such violations and abuses of IHL and IHRL may constitute genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and/or ethnic cleansing or enable the commission of these crimes. Civilians are bearing the brunt of these abuses, with violence against civilians now reaching its highest level since 2015.   The profound change to the global peace and security landscape, including intensifying threats such as climate change, the weaponization of new technologies, misinformation and disinformation, growing inequality, shrinking civic space and the deterioration of human rights and the rule of law in many parts of the world is shaping the character and dynamics of atrocity crimes today.   Selective practices, double standards and failures to take concerted action in response to early warning information further inhibit the capacity to consistently prevent these crimes.   These patterns of abuses notwithstanding, in the last two decades, considerable progress has been made in capacities to prevent and respond to atrocities at the national, regional and multilateral levels and in the conceptual development and understanding of R2P.   To understand the holistic impact of these measures, states must examine efforts explicitly conducted under the aegis of R2P alongside complementary actions taken as part of their IHL obligations and the promotion and protection of human rights.   To address new and emerging threats, the international community will need to ensure that as they uphold principles agreed to in new agendas – such as the Global Digital Compact and the Pact for the Future – they concurrently utilize the lens of implementing R2P.   Civil society organizations, like the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, play a key role in advancing atrocity prevention at the national, regional and global levels.   Engaging with international civil society and local organizations who work with at-risk communities is essential in detecting early warning signs of atrocity crimes and supporting the development of long-term prevention strategies.   The Secretary-General highlights three main areas for action to strengthen the international response to the risk of atrocity crimes:   (1) prioritize the development of permanent preventive mechanisms at the national level; (2) share experiences and lessons learned on prevention and strengthen relations between national and regional entities in regional consultations; and (3) explore the development of strategic and technical guidance on implementing the responsibility to protect at the domestic, regional and multilateral levels.   SECTION II. Global context and emerging patterns of atrocity crimes   In this section, the Secretary-General contextualizes the patterns and impact of atrocity crimes across current global trends.   This section underscores that the rising occurrence of atrocity crimes and the persistence of impunity signal a concerning erosion of compliance with legal obligations and international norms.   The Secretary-General emphasizes that, although the formal determination of mass atrocity crimes rests with national and international courts, early warning and credible allegations too often fail to prompt timely and effective preventive or protective action.   Historic number of global conflicts characterized by atrocity crimes   Over the past two decades, there has been a historic increase in violent conflicts not seen since World War II, with a significant rise in crises that are characterized by atrocity crimes.   Across many countries, fundamental rights and freedoms are being eroded, with growing instances of repression and persecution against populations based on national, ethnic, racial and religious identity, or on actual and perceived political ideology.   The Secretary-General acknowledges several ongoing crises where civilians are bearing the brunt of violations of international law that may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen.   Inter-state conflicts involving regional and international actors are playing an increasingly prominent role in today’s global peace and security landscape.   The Secretary-General underscores despite clear violations of international law, in some cases certain UN member states continue to provide financial and military support or actively weaken institutions responsible for ensuring accountability.   While many countries are pursuing sustainable resolutions to conflicts, the Secretary-General warned of the consequences of Security Council (UNSC) paralysis – due to the frequency of the use or threat of the veto by the Permanent Members – fueling perceptions of double standards and undermining effective international action.   Humanitarian impact of conflict   Recent armed conflicts are increasingly marked by blatant violations of core principles of IHL — such as distinction, proportionality and precaution – leading to a heightened risk of atrocity crimes.   The report highlights how large-scale conflicts in the Greak Lakes region, Lake Chad Basin, the Sahel, Sudan, Ukraine, Myanmar and elsewhere have resulted in significant civilian casualties.   These deaths often result from indiscriminate or identity-based attacks. Beyond loss of life, the destruction of civilian infrastructure has led to mass displacement.   The report notes that the number of forcibly displaced people has grown dramatically – from 37 million in 2005 to a record 123 million by October 2024.   These populations, especially vulnerable groups such as minority groups, people with disabilities and the elderly, face grave protection risks, including violence, disappearances, torture, forced recruitment and gender-based violence – some of which may amount to atrocity crimes.   The use of counter-terrorism measures, along with the involvement of mercenaries and private military contractors, has worsened human rights abuses in some areas. These actions frequently allow perpetrators to sidestep accountability, deepening impunity and normalizing such violations.   Access to humanitarian assistance and attacks against humanitarian workers   The report discusses the severe restrictions on humanitarian access in conflict zones, as well as attacks on humanitarian workers, exacerbating the suffering of civilian populations.   Although the UNSC has condemned the use of starvation as a method of warfare and emphasized the legal obligation to ensure civilian access to aid, in 2024 blockades and restricted access to essential goods significantly affected civilians in the OPT, North Darfur, Syria and Yemen, resulting in acute food insecurity. The intentional destruction of health facilities and targeted attacks on medical workers result in tremendous human suffering and potential mass atrocity crimes.   The Secretary-General underscores that deliberate attacks on medical facilities and personnel protected under IHL constitute war crimes.   Use of explosive weapons and new technologies in populated areas   Parties to conflicts are increasingly using methods and means of warfare that show a blatant disregard for human life, in clear violation of international law and treaty obligations.   This trend includes the widespread use of explosive weapons in populated areas – such as aerial bombardments, missile strikes and improvised explosive devices – and deliberate attacks on civilian infrastructure.   The indiscriminate use of such weapons is the primary cause of civilian casualties and the destruction of civilian objects.   The Secretary-General expresses growing concern over the expanding use of artificial intelligence and new technologies, warning that these technologies can obscure accountability, lower the threshold for the use of force and may amplify the scale of atrocity crimes without proper safeguards.   Atrocity crimes in non-armed conflict contexts   Atrocity crimes often arise from deeply rooted injustices, human rights abuses and exclusionary practices that, if ignored, can escalate into collective violence. Fragile states are particularly vulnerable to such violence, with the suppression of civil and political rights a potential early warning sign.   Atrocity risks are further heightened in contexts facing governance breakdown, political instability or democratic backsliding.   The Secretary-General highlights alarming trends, including increased attacks on journalists, the rise of racism and hate speech targeting minority groups and the manipulation of technology and social media to spread harmful ideologies, dehumanization and incitement – factors that significantly raise the risk of atrocity crimes.   Discrimination and violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity, along with restrictions on freedoms of expression, assembly and association, contribute to an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship.   These factors increase the risk of identity-based atrocity crimes. Indigenous Peoples face heightened risks due to ongoing legacies of violence, displacement and discrimination, despite legal protections.   The Secretary-General asserts that promoting diversity and protecting minority and Indigenous Peoples’ rights, along with broader civil, political, economic and cultural rights, is essential to building societal resilience and preventing atrocity crimes. The protection of civic space, freedom of expression and democratic governance is crucial.   SECTION III. Fulfilling the objectives of the responsibility to protect: good practices and lessons learned, 2005–2025   Despite persistent challenges, the Secretary-General acknowledges various national, regional and multilateral efforts that have supported the implementation of R2P. This section highlights progress made in areas of prevention, protection and accountability since R2P’s adoption..   http://www.globalr2p.org/publications/summary-2025-report/ http://www.globalr2p.org/publications/the-perils-of-loosening-hate-speech-protections/ http://www.globalr2p.org/publications/populations-at-risk-july-2025/ Visit the related web page
	Closer than ever: It is now 89 seconds to midnight by Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists   28 Jan. 2025   In 2024, humanity edged ever closer to catastrophe. Trends that have deeply concerned the Science and Security Board continued, and despite unmistakable signs of danger, national leaders and their societies have failed to do what is needed to change course. Consequently, we now move the Doomsday Clock from 90 seconds to 89 seconds to midnight—the closest it has ever been to catastrophe.   Our fervent hope is that leaders will recognize the world’s existential predicament and take bold action to reduce the threats posed by nuclear weapons, climate change, and the potential misuse of biological science and a variety of emerging technologies.   In setting the Clock one second closer to midnight, we send a stark signal: Because the world is already perilously close to the precipice, a move of even a single second should be taken as an indication of extreme danger and an unmistakable warning that every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster.   In regard to nuclear risk, the war in Ukraine, now in its third year, looms over the world; the conflict could become nuclear at any moment because of a rash decision or through accident or miscalculation.   Conflict in the Middle East threatens to spiral out of control into a wider war without warning. The countries that possess nuclear weapons are increasing the size and role of their arsenals, investing hundreds of billions of dollars in weapons that can destroy civilization.   The nuclear arms control process is collapsing, and high-level contacts among nuclear powers are totally inadequate given the danger at hand. Alarmingly, it is no longer unusual for countries without nuclear weapons to consider developing arsenals of their own—actions that would undermine longstanding nonproliferation efforts and increase the ways in which nuclear war could start.   The impacts of climate change increased in the last year as myriad indicators, including sea-level rise and global surface temperature, surpassed previous records. The global greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change continued to rise. Extreme weather and other climate change-influenced events—floods, tropical cyclones, heat waves, drought, and wildfires—affected every continent.   The long-term prognosis for the world’s attempts to deal with climate change remains poor, as most governments fail to enact the financing and policy initiatives necessary to halt global warming. Growth in solar and wind energy has been impressive but remains insufficient to stabilize the climate.   Judging from recent electoral campaigns, climate change is viewed as a low priority in the United States and many other countries.   In the biological arena, emerging and re-emerging diseases continue to threaten the economy, society, and security of the world. The off-season appearance and in-season continuance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), its spread to farm animals and dairy products, and the occurrence of human cases have combined to create the possibility of a devastating human pandemic.   Supposedly high-containment biological laboratories continue to be built throughout the world, but oversight regimes for them are not keeping pace, increasing the possibility that pathogens with pandemic potential may escape.   Rapid advances in artificial intelligence have increased the risk that terrorists or countries may attain the capability of designing biological weapons for which countermeasures do not exist.   An array of other disruptive technologies advanced last year in ways that make the world more dangerous. Systems that incorporate artificial intelligence in military targeting have been used in Ukraine and the Middle East, and several countries are moving to integrate artificial intelligence into their militaries.   Such efforts raise questions about the extent to which machines will be allowed to make military decisions—even decisions that could kill on a vast scale, including those related to the use of nuclear weapons.   Tensions among the major powers are increasingly reflected in competition in space, where China and Russia are actively developing anti-satellite capabilities; the United States has alleged that Russia has tested a satellite with a dummy warhead on it, suggesting plans to place nuclear weapons in orbit.   The dangers we have just listed are greatly exacerbated by a potent threat multiplier: the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories that degrade the communication ecosystem and increasingly blur the line between truth and falsehood.   Advances in AI are making it easier to spread false or inauthentic information across the internet—and harder to detect it.   At the same time, nations are engaging in cross-border efforts to use disinformation and other forms of propaganda to subvert elections, while some technology, media, and political leaders aid the spread of lies and conspiracy theories.   This corruption of the information ecosystem undermines the public discourse and honest debate upon which democracy depends. The battered information landscape is also producing leaders who discount science and endeavor to suppress free speech and human rights, compromising the fact-based public discussions that are required to combat the enormous threats facing the world.   Blindly continuing on the current path is a form of madness. The United States, China, and Russia have the collective power to destroy civilization. These three countries have the prime responsibility to pull the world back from the brink, and they can do so if their leaders seriously commence good-faith discussions about the global threats outlined here.   Despite their profound disagreements, they should take that first step without delay. The world depends on immediate action. It is 89 seconds to midnight.   http://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/2025-statement/ Visit the related web page
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