What is humanitarian intervention?

Humanitarian intervention refers specifically to the deployment of military force with the aim of protecting human rights, particularly in situations involving severe human suffering such as genocide, ethnic cleansing, and widespread violations of fundamental freedoms. This concept is grounded in the belief that the international community has a moral obligation to intervene in cases where the rights and lives of individuals are at risk due to state or non-state actors' actions.

The notion of using military force for humanitarian purposes is often justified under the principle of the Responsibility to Protect (R2P), which posits that sovereignty is not a shield for states to commit atrocities against their citizens without accountability. In this context, military intervention is viewed as a necessary measure when states fail to protect their populations or actively perpetrate violence against them.

Other options pertain to different forms of assistance or intervention that do not involve military action. Economic measures typically aim to support nations through financial aid or sanctions but do not directly address immediate human rights crises. Voluntary aid from non-governmental organizations focuses on humanitarian assistance without military involvement. Diplomatic efforts to negotiate peace involve dialogue and mediation to resolve conflicts but do not equate to military intervention aimed at protecting human rights. Thus, the correct definition of humanitarian intervention aligns specifically with the application of military force