I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect, also known as ICR2P a community of commitment made up of over 73 civil society and non-governmental organizations from around the world dedicated to the promotion of human rights, the prevention of atrocities, including the crime of genocide, and effective and consistent implementation of the Responsibility to Protect principle.

ICR2P welcomes this Panel discussion on early warning and genocide prevention with the UN Special Adviser. As we commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Responsibility to Protect in 2025 and the anniversary of the Human Rights Council in 2026, this panel offers a crucial moment to reflect on the horrors R2P was designed to confront and to reaffirm multilateral commitments to protecting the most vulnerable.

Civil society organizations and affected communities are often the first to witness and document warning signs of mass atrocities. Their work in harm mitigation, violence de-escalation, and advocacy for justice and accountability is indispensable. Their expertise must be systematically integrated into policymaking on early warning and R2P-focused response.

We therefore urge all UN Member States and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to reduce administrative barriers and systematically integrate civil society insights into multilateral decision-making. We also urge the UN Office on Genocide Prevention and R2P to enhance its early warning capacity by regularly sharing country-specific analysis with UN member states, strengthening collaboration with civil society to monitor risks and following up on situations referred by UN mechanisms, including Treaty Bodies. Member States must also safeguard civil society actors from reprisals and ensure their contributions inform policy action.

In closing, we ask,

How can Member States and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reduce barriers to effective civil society participation in early warning and atrocity prevention efforts in the UN human rights system?