Pakistan Calls for Strengthening Global Efforts to Prevent War Crimes

Pakistan: Pakistan has said the greatest failure of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) framework is evident in situations of prolonged conflict and foreign occupation, where atrocities continue to be committed with impunity despite the attention of the international community.

According to Radio Pakistan, speaking during the UN General Assembly debate on the Responsibility to Protect and the Prevention of Genocide, War Crimes, Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes against Humanity, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad said the promise of “Never Again” remains unfulfilled, with “no responsibility, no protection and no accountability” for victims of mass atrocities.

He noted that genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity are among the gravest crimes against humanity and recalled that the Responsibility to Protect was introduced at the 2005 World Summit as a safeguard against such atrocities.

The Permanent Representative stressed that if the Responsibility to Protect is to retain its credibility as a humanitarian principle, it must be implemented consistently, uniformly, and without double standards, in full accordance with the UN Charter and international law.

Asim Iftikhar Ahmad called for a comprehensive approach centered on prevention, including sustained investment in early warning systems, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding. He also urged the international community to intensify efforts to peacefully resolve protracted conflicts and longstanding disputes on the Security Council’s agenda in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions and international legitimacy.