ABSTRACT
The Secretary-General has reaffirmed that armed force is not ruled out, but that any use of such force, including the deployment of UN-sanctioned multinational forces for establishing security zones, the imposition of no-fly zones, and the establishment of a military presence on land and at sea protection or deterrence purposes are measures to be determined by the Security Council.8 One example is Council resolution 1973 (2011), which authorized UN members ‘to take all necessary measures’ in Libya for the purpose of protecting civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack.9 Moreover, though collective action remains central in the implementation process, the responsibility to provide a timely and decisive response in a rapidly unfolding emergency situation is not limited to the Security Council. Not only the UN but also regional, sub-regional, and national decision-makers must focus on saving lives through timely and decisive action.10
