1. The Mechanisms of the Optional Protocol to the Genocide Convention and its links to R2P
By Jean-François Bussière-Wallot,
Director of UN and International Legal Affairs, Genocide Watch

2. The Scope of the Protocol
3 principal mechanisms
Cooperation in the Prevention of Genocide
Institutional mechanisms for quick recognition of Genocide
Regional Intervention and UN-R.O. cooperation

3. Article 2 – Prevention and Information sharing
The Contracting Parties agree to reinforce their efforts to prevent genocide. In particular, they agree to undertake the following:
Monitor and document genocide and early warning signs of genocide, which shall include information regarding the other serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole that are war crimes and crimes against humanity, wherever genocide or early warning signs of genocide may occur;

4. Information Flow

5. Genocide Convention Article VIII
“Any Contracting Party may call upon the competent organs of the United Nations to take such action under the Charter of the United Nations as they consider appropriate for the prevention and suppression of acts of genocide or any of the other acts enumerated in article III.”

6. Quick recognition of genocide
By whom? All of those:
UN Security Council
UN General Assembly
Relevant Regional Organizations
When?
Preparatory acts towards genocide
Acts that could lead to or constitute genocide

7. Decision mechanism flowchart