Lords to debate the 'Responsibility to Protect'
Peers including the Chairman of the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building, a trustee of Saferworld and the Chairman of the House of Lords Sexual Violence in Conflict Committee will debate the Responsibility to Protect, an international security and human rights commitment to help prevent and stop genocides, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, on Thursday 16 July.
The debate will be opened by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale who, speaking ahead of the debate, said:
“Twenty years on from the terrible events at Srebrenica, this debate on the Responsibility to Protect will take place at a time when we are reminded of the failures to protect in the past.
“Ten years ago, the Member States of the United Nations recognised those failures and agreed an international commitment based on the responsibility of sovereign states to protect their people, the obligation on the international community to assist them and the duty of the international community to intervene when atrocities are threatened.
“It is time to reflect on the success or otherwise of R2P and to discuss the ways in which it might become more effective in today's world.”
Other Members scheduled to speak include:
- Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, UK delegate to international Parliamentary Network “Women Free from Violence” and Chairman of the House of Lords' Sexual Violence in Conflict Committee;
- Lord Alderdice, Chairman and Director of the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building;
- Lord Collins of Highbury, shadow spokesperson for International Development;
- Baroness Hodgson of Abinger, Chairman of the Advisory Board of GAPS (Gender Action for Peace & Security) and member of the House of Lords' Sexual Violence in Conflict Committee;
- Lord Judd, Trustee of Saferworld;
- Lord Hylton, Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Foundation for Reconciliation and Relief in Middle East;
- Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood, former Justice of the Supreme Court;
- Lord Hannay of Chiswick, former Ambassador to the United Nations and member of the House of Lords' Sexual Violence in Conflict Committee; and
- Baroness Smith of Newnham, Senior University Lecturer in International Relations, University of Cambridge.
Baroness Hooper, Earl Attlee, Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, Lord Cashman, the Bishop of Portsmouth and Lord Desai are also expected to take part in the debate.
The Earl of Courtown will respond on behalf of the Government.
