Monitoring Policy Making at the United Nations |
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Sanctions
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United Nations
The UN Security Council imposes sanctions to enforce international law. Sanctions are supposed to persuade rulers to change their military, economic, or human rights policies, so as to end wars, civil conflicts or other crises that threaten international peace and security.
Sanctions are potentially a very important tool, but all too often, sanctions harm innocent victims and fail to achieve policy ends. Sometimes, the Council imposes sanctions without intending to enforce them. Or it may enforce sanctions for obscure or dubious reasons. Two notorious cases are the previous sanctions in Angola and Iraq. Why, for instance, was it so difficult to tighten sanctions on Unita rebels in Angola to stop one of the bloodiest civil wars in our time? And why were sanctions against Iraq continued for thirteen years despite devastating humanitarian results and the opposition of nearly the entire international community?
Sanctions reformers have proposed a set of rules that would guide Security Council decisions, making them fairer and more even-handed. After lengthy negotiations, the Council appeared close to adopting a text in late 2001. But objections by Permanent Members, especially the United States, scuttled the effort. Similarly, reformers have emphasized "targeted sanctions" that would affect leaders and not innocent civilians, but after lengthy efforts by some governments and NGOs, little has resulted. Reformers have also proposed humanitarian monitoring of sanctions by the UN Secretariat, to minimize civilian suffering. Again, powerful Council members have shown little enthusiasm for a process that might tie their hands in a future conflict.
This section looks at the debate on sanctions and includes many documents proposing ways to make sanctions more effective, better "targeted," and more humane. It sheds light on the reasons why sanctions often fail to bring about desired results and end up hurting those whom they are supposed to help - ordinary citizens who are the victims of violence and bloodshed.
Index | Sanctions on Specific Countries | Highlighted Documents
Diamonds in Conflict | Dark Side of Natural Resources
Highlighted Documents
The Adverse Consequences of Economic Sanctions on the Enjoyment of Human Rights (June 21, 2000)
Otherwise known as the Bossuyt Report, this working paper of the ECOSOC Commission on Human Rights is concerned with the effects of economic sanctions. It hopes to provide a framework for incorporating the human rights and humanitarian law dimension of sanctions into international dialogue.Sanctions: An Analysis
Written by James A. Paul and Senwan Akhtar of Global Policy Forum.Sixteen Policy Recommendations on Sanctions
James A. Paul of Global Policy Forum made these recommendations at a forum of German parliamentarians in Bonn on March 31, 1998.Iraq Sanctions: Humanitarian Implications and Options for the Future
A policy paper on the humanitarian implications of sanctions on Iraq.Index
UN Sanctions Committees, Statements, Documents, and Press Releases
Posted here are important documents of the UN, related to the workings of the Sanctions Committees of the Security Council and UN sanctions. Note that the Press Releases are "unofficial". Also provides information on the UN Working Group on General Issues on Sanctions established in 2000.General Articles on Sanctions
Articles from the media. For sanctions on specific countries, see this separate index.Sanctions Policy Studies and Recommendations
A collection of links and statements from a variety of sources, including major international initiatives. Includes links to sites examining targeted sanctions.Viewpoints of Business and Conservative Groups
Articles, studies and links to information on sanctions from conservative groups. Includes the site of USA*Engage, an anti-sanction business coalition.Bibliography on Sanctions
Bibliography of printed materials and books.Additional Links
Links to other useful sites about sanctions.
More Information on Sanctions on Specific Countries
More Information on the UN Security Council
