With atrocity crimes on the rise around the world, countries have an increasing responsibility to protect their citizens, according to the UN Special Adviser on the issue.

Ivan Šimonović reports to the UN Secretary-General on what’s known as the Responsibility to Protect – R2P for short – which the General Assembly adopted in 2005, outlining the need for each Member State to shield its people from genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The General Assembly highlighted that the international community has the responsibility also to intervene through peaceful means, to protect populations from such atrocity crimes.

Vibhu Mishra asked Mr Šimonović how necessary the doctrine still is today.

Duration: 3’41”