Description
The UN Security Council is experiencing a period of increased tension between member states, in part caused by the ratcheting up of major power disputes. In this context, one can highlight a range of informal practices that have begun to gain greater traction in response to the ongoing challenge of supporting mass atrocity crime prevention. Most notably, the use of informal dialogue forums such as Arria formula meetings, which are increasingly utilised as critical sites for discussion of early warning initiatives outside of formal UNSC meetings. However, so far academic literature exploring the rise in the use of such forums and their effectiveness in supporting prevention activities has been limited. In response, this paper examines four key practical functions of Arria Formula meetings as part of an atrocity prevention strategy and draws on practice theory in order to further theorise the significant interplay between formal and informal practices within international organisations such as the UNSC. Through this analysis, it is argued that the increased use of such meetings is representative of evolving UN practice which is placing greater emphasis on the need for flexibility in addressing emerging threats to human protection as well as the importance of civil society actors in providing additional information and expertise to member states.
