If atrocities are being committed against minorities in a country, it is the direct responsibility of the government to protect them, and failure to do so constitutes a failure of the government and establishes its accountability. This is because governments have a duty to ensure the safety of all their citizens, especially minorities, and to uphold international human rights, including the ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P) principle, which encompasses preventing genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
As established by the United Nations.
Why is the government responsible?
Constitutional and Legal Obligations: The constitutions of most countries (such as Articles 29 and 30 in India) provide for the protection of the rights and culture of minorities, and maintaining law and order is the responsibility of the government.
Protection of Human Rights: Atrocities against minorities, such as violence, discrimination, and destruction of property, constitute violations of international human rights, and governments are obligated to prevent them.
International Commitments: Under the UN’s ‘Responsibility to Protect’ (R2P) principle, every state has the responsibility to protect its own population from genocide and crimes against humanity, and if it fails to do so, the international community may intervene.
Why is the government culpable? Failure: When governments are unable or unwilling to protect minorities from violence, it reflects their incompetence or reluctance, as seen in the incidents involving minorities in Bangladesh, where the police failed to act promptly.
Institutional Failure: When law enforcement agencies (police, judiciary) are insensitive to or biased against minority issues, it constitutes a systemic failure for which the government is responsible.
Accountability:
If governments ignore atrocities or fail to take action against perpetrators, they are indirectly complicit in these acts and should be held accountable. In short, protecting minority rights is a fundamental duty of any responsible government, and failing in this duty makes it accountable.
Mohd. Latif Khan (Advocate)
National President
Interglobe Human Rights Forum
