The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issued a report Thursday detailing challenges for the responsibility to protect (R2P) amid an increasing disregard of international human law and international human rights law by both state and non-state actors.

The concept of R2P was adopted by the General Assembly in 2005, so the next year will mark the twentieth anniversary of the enactment. This principle means that the member states of the UN have the obligation to prevent offences regulated by the UN Charter which infringe upon human rights, such as genocide and war crimes.

In the submission, the Secretary-General raised concerns about the recent trend of ongoing human rights violations such as war crimes, crimes against humanity and gender-based discrimination. Furthermore, the report pointed out the development of artificial intelligence and climate change as potential factors leading to the commission of these offences.

Although the report recognized the progress and effort of UN member states and international organizations, it also raised four challenges to prevent serious infringements of human rights. First, the report called for the early establishment of preventive measures. Second, it called on actors to properly understand the nature of atrocity crimes to better recognize warning signs. The third challenge is the need for quick response and discussion against violations at both national and international levels. Finally, the Secretary-General called for more attention and priority to vulnerable groups to satisfy R2P.

In the final part of the report, the Secretary-General emphasized the importance of continuous management by enacting measures with multiple forms while urging to cooperative efforts to avoid escalation of violations at a global level.