As an introduction, participants and researchers from all continents were welcomed by Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon (video address). Special Adviser of the UN Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect George Okoth-Obbo is actively participating in the Conference.

Slovenia has actively supported the UN R2P principle since its inception in 2005, in which it also participated. In 2015, this principle was enshrined in the Declaration on Foreign Policy of the Republic of Slovenia and in the Foreign Policy Strategy as one of Slovenia’s foreign policy priorities.

R2P means that every country has the duty to protect the people in its territory from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The international community, through the UN, also has the responsibility to use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian, and other peaceful means including force, as a last resort, through the UN Security Council, to help protect populations from atrocities.

The Conference provides an opportunity for academics, experts, government and international officials from numerous countries to share experiences, analysis and research on situations where populations are at risk. It also gives participants the opportunity to exchange information on practices and recommendations to prevent processes that can lead to atrocities in certain circumstances. 

This year's Conference will address a number of topics, such as the experiences of national and international R2P focal points, R2P and the Security Council, R2P and challenges of the International Criminal Court, AI and R2P, R2P and protection of children, interventions and R2P, women and R2P, R2P and regional approaches, and national approaches to R2P.