Following intense debates on the successes and failures of the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) principle ten years after its adoption, the LI Human Rights Committee (LI HRC) has released a booklet drawing together the diverse viewpoints expressed from within the political, diplomatic and civil society circles at a recent bi-annual meeting, taking place this time at the European Parliament in Brussels.

The booklet provides a thorough overview of LI’s work on RtoP over the last ten years along with detailed accounts of expert opinions and liberal visions on the matter including the full speeches delivered by the Georgian Ambassador to the European Union, Her Excellency Natalie Sabanadze, representatives of the International Coalition for RtoP and the United States Institute of Peace, LI President of Honour Lord John Alderdice, Member of the European Parliament and LI HRC Member Ilhan Kyuchyuk MEP and Lebanese Member of Parliament Khodr Habib (Future Movement, LI full-member) to name a few.

Setting out his vision for the future of RtoP in the foreword of the publication, the Director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF, LI cooperating organisation) office in Brussels, Dr. Hans Stein, said: “As liberals we have always believed that our responsibility may extend beyond the confinement of national borders. Although often consumed by domestic turmoil, Europe must not shrink from its global responsibility to protect. This is where we as FNF see our responsibility: supporting citizens, civil society organizations and parties to strengthen democratic structures in their countries.”

Significant contributions were also made by Former Canadian Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dr. Irwin Cotler and LI patrons Ingemund Haag and Richard Moore who have been at the forefront of the work on the issue within the framework of LI HRC.

A PDF downloadable version of the booklet can be accessed here.

Few printed copies of the Booklet have been made available to the Committee with the generous support of the FNF office in Brussels and LI full-member the ALDE Group.