"India can play larger role in terms of its obligation to protect populations from mass atrocities, genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing," Bonian Golmohammadi, Secretary-General of the World Federation of United Nations Associations, told reporters on the sidelines of a conference on here.
Noting that discussions related to obligations of all states to protect civilians worldwide were taking place mostly in New York, Golmohammadi said the 'Responsibility to Protect' (R2P) initiative was started to expand the debate globally.
"India, as an emerging and influencing power, can play a proactive and constructive role in strengthening and improving the implementation of R2P," he said.
Suresh Srivastava, Secretary General of Indian Federation of United Nations Associations, which was set up Jawaharlal Nehru in 1960, said India is on the side which aims to protect civilians from mass atrocities.
Golmohammadi said, "Military force should be the last resort. It is the responsibility of every state to prevent crimes within its borders.
"However, when the state fails to prevent atrocities, or is itself responsible for them, what steps should we take? This is the debate we want to bring to India," he said.
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He said governments alone cannot be responsible to decide if and when intervention is necessary.
"We at the WFUNA want civil society members, NGOs and the media to play a more active role when it comes to obligations to protect civilians worldwide," he said.