The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) is a principle in international relations that holds that states have a responsibility to protect their populations from mass atrocity crimes, such as genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. The principle was adopted by the United Nations in 2005 and recognizes that while sovereignty gives states the right to control their own affairs, it also carries with it the responsibility to protect populations from mass atrocities.
The concept of R2P conflicts with the concept of sovereignty in that it potentially allows for international intervention in a sovereign state in order to protect populations from mass atrocities. This can be seen as a violation of the state's sovereignty, as it may interfere with its ability to control its own affairs and make decisions about how it should protect its own citizens.
However, proponents of R2P argue that in cases where a state is unable or unwilling to protect its own populations from mass atrocities, the international community has a responsibility to step in and take action. They argue that the principle balances the concept of sovereignty with the obligation to protect populations from mass atrocities, and that it is necessary in order to prevent human suffering and protect fundamental human rights.
In practice, the application of the R2P principle can be difficult and contentious, as there may be disagreement among states about when and how to intervene, and there may also be concerns about the potential for abuse of the principle. Nonetheless, the concept of R2P continues to play an important role in shaping international discussions about how to respond to mass atrocities.