20 Years Since the Promise of the World Summit Outcome

6th and 7th May 2025, Liverpool, UK

Call for Papers

2025 marks 20 years on from 2005 World Summit when the international community adopted the principle of the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing. The Responsibility to Protect has developed from its initial idea, faced the inaction of states and the United Nations Security Council, but has also seen progress in its implementation through ‘R2P Focal Points’ and in the UN General Assembly, as well as other parts of the UN system, and within regional organisations.

The Organising Committee invites abstracts to be submitted for the 7th Responsibility to Protect in Theory and Practice Conference to be held in Liverpool, United Kingdom on 6th and 7th May 2025.

The Organising Committee welcomes paper proposals in any area of research related to the Responsibility to Protect. This may include, but is not limited to, research on international law, mass atrocity prevention, international relations, international politics, and other relevant fields. The Committee also particularly welcomes suggestions for papers or presentations from practitioners and stakeholders who work in these areas to implement the promises of the Responsibility to Protect.

Please send an abstract of no more than 300 words along with a short biography (no more than 200 words).

Please use the link below to submit an abstract for the Call.

The deadline for submissions is 28th February 2025

Notification of acceptance will be given by 15th March 2025

We look forward to welcoming you to the Conference.

About the Conference

The Responsibility to Protect in Theory and Practice Series is a series of biennial international interdisciplinary conferences established by the Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. The series is devoted exclusively to the principle of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P/RtoP), with the objective to create an opportunity for scholars and practitioners to engage in an interdisciplinary academic debate on the theoretical and practical implications of the principle. The conferences are organised as a forum where international experts and researchers have the opportunity to participate in a discourse on issues related to R2P and its applicability in practice.

Since 2013, the conference has been hosted by the Faculty of Law at the University of Ljubljana. Edge Hill University hosted a special anniversary event in 2021, online, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the conference will be co-organised by the two universities and hosted by the International Justice and Human Rights Centre, Edge Hill University, bringing together colleagues from around the world for a special event to mark 20 years since the 2005 World Summit Outcome.

A Two-Day Conference

This conference will take place on 6th and 7th May 2025. Although the conference will be at least partly hosted at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Liverpool City Centre will provide a central hub for travel and accommodation for the conference.

The Venues
Day 1: TBC

The Conference Organising Committee will provide an update on the venue for Day 1 soon.

Day 2: Edge Hill University
An image of the Law Building on Campus at Edge Hill University in autumn.

On Wednesday 7th May, the second day of the conference will take place on campus at Edge Hill University (a short coach ride out of Liverpool City Centre).

The Organising Committee is exploring options for travel to and from Edge Hill Campus to be provided for attendees who register for this (further details to follow). Attendees are also free to travel to Edge Hill Campus themselves. Edge Hill is located a short 15 min walk from Ormskirk Rail Station (which is part of Liverpool’s Merseyrail Network from Liverpool Central Station).

The conference website www.R2Pconference.com will provide details on how to travel to Liverpool, the conference venues, and further recommendations on accommodation in due course. Registration will open in the coming weeks, and so please check back on this page for the latest updates, or register for updates above to be added to our list for the latest information.

Dr Vasilka Sancin

Conference Chair

Faculty of Law University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

Dr Patrick Butchard

Organising Committee

International Justice and Human Rights Centre

Edge Hill University

Ormskirk, United Kingdom

twitter / X:  @ehu_law_cj

hashtags: #R2PConf2025 and                #R2P20

Contact:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

A decorative banner with the Conference title, and the logos of the Conference Series, the University of Ljubljana Faculty of Law, and Edge Hill University's International Justice and Human Rights Centre.