About Us

The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect saves lives by mobilizing the international community to act in situations where populations are at risk of mass atrocity crimes.

We exist to uphold the norm of the Responsibility to Protect – known as R2P – adopted by the UN in 2005. This principle seeks to ensure that the international community never again fails to halt the mass atrocity crimes of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

GCR2P Case Study

Our Mission: Making R2P A Global Reality

To make the promise of R2P a reality, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect (GCR2P) was established in 2008 by supportive governments, leading figures from the human rights field (including former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans and former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson), as well as five of the world’s leading international non-governmental organizations (Human Rights Watch, International Crisis Group, Oxfam International, Refugees International and the World Federalist Movement).

The Global Centre engages in advocacy around specific crises, conducts research designed to further understanding of R2P, recommends strategies to help states build capacity, and works closely with NGOs, governments and regional bodies which are seeking to operationalize the Responsibility to Protect. The Global Centre has offices in New York and Geneva.

To advance the international commitment to R2P, the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect focuses on three main areas:

  • 1
    CLARIFYING R2P

    In-depth research and analysis for policymakers. Focusing on real world case studies and “lessons learned,” the Global Centre is the leading international authority on applying the R2P lens to crisis situations.

  • 2
    Advocating for R2P Implementation

    Influencing decision-makers to act to prevent mass atrocity crimes. The Global Centre works closely with governments, regional organizations, the UN Security Council and the UN Secretariat. It provides policymakers with advice and helps mobilize meaningful action.

  • 3
    Strengthening and Institutionalizing R2P

    Building dedicated institutions and capacities at the national, regional and international level to effectively respond to the threat of mass atrocity crimes. The Global Centre focuses on long-term solutions to prevent mass atrocity crimes and protect human rights. The Global Centre is assisting states in building a “community of commitment” against mass atrocities.

Staff

The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect's staff includes country specialists and advocates for mass atrocity prevention drawn from diverse backgrounds. Each member of the staff contributes their unique expertise to the Global Centre's work on populations at risk and thematic areas.
Savita Pawnday
Executive Director
+1 212-817-2104
Jaclyn Streitfeld-Hall
Director of Policy and Research
+1 212-817-1944
Sarah Hunter
Senior Research and Advocacy Officer - Communications Specialist
Juliette Paauwe
Senior Research and Advocacy Officer
+1 212-817-1930
Elisabeth Pramendorfer
Geneva Representative
Christine Caldera
Research and Advocacy Officer and Coordinator for the NGOWGSC
Julia Saltzman
Program Associate
+1 212-817-1929
Priscila Vazquez
Program Associate
Eli Karetny
Financial Officer
+1 212-817-1938
Isabelle Regent
Research Intern
Julie Vassbø
Research Intern

International Advisory Board

The distinguished International Advisory Board provides advice on strategy, policy and management. Its members include policymakers, diplomats and academics - many of whom played pivotal roles in the creation of R2P - as well as leaders from the international human rights community.

  • Professor the Hon. Gareth Evans (Co-Chair)
    Former Australian Minister, Former Chancellor of the Australian National University
  • Jennifer Welsh (Co-Chair)
    Former UN Special Adviser on R2P, Director of the Centre for International Peace and Security Studies, McGill University
  • Simon Adams
    President and CEO, Center for Victims of Torture
  • Victoria Holt
    Norman E. McCulloch Jr. Director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding, Dartmouth University
  • Rita Izsák-Ndiaye
    OSCE Personal Representative on Children and Security
  • George Okoth-Obbo
    Former UN Special Adviser on R2P
  • Ivan Šimonović
    Former UN Special Adviser on R2P, Permanent Representative of Croatia to the UN
  • Karen Smith
    Former UN Special Adviser on R2P, Lecturer, Leiden University
  • Bruno Stagno Ugarte
    Deputy Executive Director for Advocacy, Human Rights Watch
  • John Torpey
    Director, Ralph Bunche Institute, CUNY Graduate Center

Founding Patrons

During 2008 a number of leading diplomats within the field of human rights, civilian protection and mass atrocity prevention supported and faciltated the creation of the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. Many of these individuals served on the International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty, which created the principle of the responsibility to protect. The Global Centre is indebted to their support and wisdom in the early stages of our organization.

  • Kofi Annan
  • Lloyd Axworthy
  • Roméo Dallaire
  • Jan Eliasson
  • Lee Hamilton
  • David Hamburg
  • Prince El Hassan bin Talal
  • Sadako Ogata
  • Fidel V. Ramos
  • Mary Robinson
  • Mohamed Sahnoun
  • Desmond Tutu

Supporters

Since 2007, the Global Centre has received generous financial support from various parties. To donate and help support the work of the Global Centre please contact Savita Pawnday.

GOVERNMENTS
  • Australia
  • Belgium
  • Canada
  • Denmark
  • France
  • Germany
  • Ireland
  • Liechtenstein
  • Luxembourg
  • Mexico
  • Monaco
  • The Netherlands
  • Norway
  • Qatar
  • Republic of Korea
  • Rwanda
  • Slovenia
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • European Union
  • Organization of American States
Foundations
  • Arsenault Family Foundation
  • Carnegie Corporation of New York
  • Getty Foundation
  • Humanity United
  • Open Society Foundations
  • The David and Anita Keller Foundation
  • The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
  • and other family foundations
Individuals
  • Scott and Elena Lawlor
  • Darian and Rick Swig
  • Kathleen and Theodore Janus
  • Other anonymous donors

Opportunities with the Global Centre

The Global Centre seeks dedicated individuals who share our commitment to preventing mass atrocity crimes. To learn about current opportunities to work with the Global Centre, please see the links below:

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CONTACT US

Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect

Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies
The Graduate Center, CUNY
365 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5203
New York, NY 10016-4309, USA

Phone: +1 212-817-1929 | info@globalr2p.org
R2P Resources & Statements