The "Responsibility to Protect" in the United Nations and the Doctrine of the "Responsibility to Protect"

The 'responsibility to protect' is a relatively new expression that has become accepted in the UN since 2005 as a duty to assist victim populations of serious violations of human rights. Its admittance in this organization is of importance since it again rouses discussion about the established paradigms of positive International Law. However, its concept, scope and limits from the time of its approval by UN member states have hardly been explored in relevant literature. The present paper undertakes the task of examining the concept of the 'responsibility to protect' approved by the UN General Assembly and of ascertaining its scope and limits as well as the problems of application linked with this concept. Furthermore, it will deal with the contentious items relating to the 'responsibility to protect', and finally, it will make a critical appraisal of the doctrine of the 'responsibility to protect' which inspires this concept.