Author: Josie Hornung

The last decade has seen an overall increase in mass atrocity crimes being committed by non-state actors, including terrorist groups. A key strength of R2P Pillar Two Protection Assistance lies in its potential for addressing imminent threats of mass atrocity posed by such groups. This article discusses the scope and legitimacy of R2P Pillar Two, its application to non-state actors, and the conditions that enabled limited protection assistance action to be effectively rendered in response to the impending genocide of 40,000 Yazidis trapped on Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq in 2014.
Keywords: terrorism; R2P; mass atrocity; Pillar Two; protection assistance; Yazidi

In 2015 Adrian Gallagher wrote that ‘Pillar ii remains the most overlooked and under-researched of the three pillars’ and that there is ‘a striking disconnect between the importance of Pillar ii on the one hand, and the lack of research into it on the other’.2 Seven years on, this remains the case.3 This is despite the fact that Pillar Two has particular relevance in cases involving non-state actors, including terrorist groups,4 who pose a growing threat worldwide. This article seeks to illuminate the capacity of R2P Pillar Two ‘Protection Assistance’ action to be taken to assist states in their efforts to prevent atrocities being perpetrated by such groups, and to discuss the scope and legitimacy of this type of action.

It will examine the 2014 Protection Assistance action led by the United States (US) in response to a call from the Iraqi government to assist it in fulfilling its responsibility to protect populations at imminent risk of genocide, in this case at the hands of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (isil), a United Nations (UN) designated terrorist group.5 In doing so, it will seek to establish that, although the response did not prevent all genocidal acts by isil, the Protection Assistance actions, when examined in isolation, did nevertheless prevent the likely genocide of approximately 40,000 Yazidis trapped on Mount Sinjar in northern Iraq. It will show that the military and humanitarian assistance provided at Iraq’s request helped reduce casualties and allowed local forces to evacuate the trapped members of the Yazidi ethno-religious minority group into Syria and away from the imminent risk posed. It will argue that the US’ actions should therefore be viewed as an example of Pillar Two Protection Assistance effectively rendered. Further, through an analysis of the case, the conditions that enabled the US’ limited response to be effective will be discussed, and claims against its effectiveness weighed.[1]

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