In an interview on Changing the World for Good

The Responsibility to Protect is written by Gareth Evans. The key theme in the book is that the state should be responsible for protecting its own people from mass atrocity crimes.  

Gareth Evans started International Crisis and is a person with a conscience as keen as his mind. As Australian foreign minister, he was a key broker of the United Nations peace plan for Cambodia. The Responsibility to Protect was a resolution unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly at the 2005 World Summit but, unfortunately, these words have proved to be as hollow as ‘never again’.

In the book Mr Evans lays out practical ways to avoid genocide and the slaughter of innocents. Military intervention is only the very last resort and only if the benefits outweigh the likely negative effects of such an intervention. Rather, he focuses on the ‘toolboxes’ respected emissaries might bring to the table in dialogue with warring parties. A brilliant example is Kenya. When the church and homes were burnt in the Rift Valley and Kenya appeared to be moving towards uncontrollable violence, Kofi Annan and other respected leaders went to Kenya and were able to bring about the fragile peace that has held thus far. The ‘toolbox’ or sticks and carrots a dignitary might be authorised to bring to the table would depend on the country and its needs, whether it be loans or trade agreements or whatever. It is an excellent, practical and scholarly book which should be essential reading for all world leaders.