The evolution of responsibility to protect (R2P) is a result of an attempt to change the nature and character of dynamics of humanitarian intervention as questions of its legality gained momentum post the cold war period with a particular focus on human rights. It changed the contours of humanitarian intervention. One of the foremost criticisms is the selective implementation of R2P. There still exists an ambiguity about the nature of R2P and there have been different interpretations since the adoption of the R2P concept at the world summit in 2005. This paper argues that dichotomy of evolution of international standards like the R2P on one hand and continued inadequacies of evaluating the legal character of such norms poses challenges for implementation of international law