Table 5 Reform programmes for lifting timber sanctions (Committee to Review Sanctions on Log and Timber Trade)

To minimize the adverse effects of United Nations economic sanctions on innocent populations, to subject such sanctions regimes to regular reviews and to eliminate the adverse effects of sanctions on third parties.

Furthermore, United Nations sanctions programmes have not required their targets to have been convicted by a court of law.

4. Before the introduction of sanctions, the country or party which is the object of the sanctions must be given unambiguous notice.

It expressed solidarity with Member States that are affected by such unilateral sanctions and requested that they be lifted immediately.

On the other hand, it was said that it was inconsistent with the very nature and purpose of sanctions to frame the resolutions that imposed them in such a manner that they would lapse on a certain date regardless of whether or not the State against which the sanctions were directed had altered its conduct in the manner that was being required of it.

It also had a responsibility to assess the possible effects of sanctions prior to their imposition and apply a clear and coherent methodology for the imposition, application and lifting of sanctions.

The key issues on which consensus could not be reached were the following the duration of sanctions, i.e., whether sanctions should be, in principle, time limited the related issue of criteria for lifting sanctions Committee decision making (whether by consensus or simple majority) and addressing the concerns of third States adversely affected by sanctions.

7. Before sanctions are applied, a clear warning could be expressed in unequivocal language to the target country or party.

Security Council reform and the improvement of its working methods require a re evaluation of the sanctions regimes imposed by the Council, including their routine periodic review, their lifting and whether the regime in its current form achieves the goals for which it was instituted.

Clearly, a balanced regime that would make it possible to achieve the objectives of sanctions had never been established on the contrary, sanctions had effects that went beyond their intended objectives and harmed vulnerable populations in the countries.

Ms. Lehto shared her experience on sanctions implementation in Finland and observed that in the light of the increased sophistication and complexity of sanctions regimes, the work of sanctions committees was not sufficiently transparent.

As an example of the evolution of targeted sanctions, lists of individuals and entities drawn up by sanctions committees play an increasingly important role in achieving the objectives of targeted sanctions.

Mr. Bessler noted that although the trend had shifted from comprehensive to targeted sanctions, methodologies for assessing the humanitarian implications of certain sanctions remained important.

They should not be used in a vexatious or punitive manner.

Sanctions

Sanctions

That situation made it urgent to examine in depth all forms of unilateral sanctions which individual countries imposed on third countries outside the United Nations.

The Team regards the Consolidated List as the basis of the sanctions programme.

Several speakers expressed support for the progress the Council had made in its sanctions regimes over the past few years and supported the concept of targeted sanctions.

Possible sanctions might include criminal sanctions, penalties and fines.

(b) Sanctions committees provide opportunities for third States affected by sanctions to brief them on the unintended impact of sanctions they are experiencing and on assistance needed by them to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions

(b) Sanctions committees provide opportunities for third States affected by sanctions to brief them on the unintended impact of sanctions they are experiencing and on assistance needed by them to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions

(b) Sanctions committees provide opportunities for third States affected by sanctions to brief them on the unintended impact of sanctions they are experiencing and on assistance needed by them to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions

Basis of the sanctions regime

15. Depending on the nature of sanctions imposed on a target country, specific costs for third States associated with the balance of payments may be further grouped into external sector categories (a) those related to trade with the target country (b) those related to financial links with the target country and (c) other costs associated with special relationship with the target country (e.g., joint ventures).

Appropriate consideration should be given, in this context, to the sanctions foreseen in order to provide for an effective deterrent.

These included questions related to the duration of sanctions, the conditions for lifting them, and how to address the issue of populations affected by them.

At the same time, the view was expressed that the occasioning of suffering among the population of the target State, if not inherent to sanctions, was at the very least an almost necessary aspect of them.

Targeted sanctions

In considering the question of sanctions, special attention should be paid to the humanitarian limits of sanctions.

In this regard, the Council may wish to address the issue of how to enhance the preventive nature of sanctions and their utility within other parallel strategies.

On the one hand, it was felt that sanctions should be subject to a definite time frame which was clearly specified in advance. Otherwise, the essentially temporary nature of sanctions would be eroded.

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has argued that such considerations must be fully taken into account when a sanctions regime is being designed that effective monitoring must be undertaken throughout the period when sanctions are in force and that the party or parties responsible for the imposition, maintenance or implementation of sanctions should take steps to prevent any disproportionate suffering being experienced by vulnerable groups within the targeted country.

107. Sanctions should be implemented and monitored effectively with clear benchmarks and should be periodically reviewed, as appropriate, and remain for as limited a period as necessary to achieve their objectives and should be terminated once the objectives have been achieved.

Monitoring of sanctions implementation by sanctions committees and monitoring mechanisms, in accordance with relevant Council resolutions, can increase the effectiveness of sanctions.

Rejection of the unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on the Syrian Arab Republic

The report equally falls short in proposing ways of addressing unilateral sanctions.

The fundamental consideration in this regard was that sanctions should not cause unacceptable suffering to the civilian population of the State against which they were imposed in particular, they should not endanger enjoyment of the rights to life, food and health.

Sanctions and Solidarity

Effectiveness of the sanctions

Sanctions

(b) Export sanction.

(e) Procurement sanction.

(f) Additional sanctions.