UN delegates called for clearer limits and humanitarian safeguards on sanctions during an Oct. 23 debate on applying the organisation’s founding treaty, the United Nations said.
The debate paired support for sanctions with demands for closer scrutiny of their effects. The United Nations published its account on Oct. 23, titled “Discussing Implementation of UN Charter, Sixth Committee Touches on Sanctions, Peaceful Dispute Settlement”.
India’s representative said sanctions should come as a last resort, have a clear purpose, expire within a defined period and undergo regular review. Ghana’s representative said they should neither punish entire populations nor obstruct humanitarian assistance to civilians.
India’s representative cited the UN Secretariat’s finding that targeted sanctions had reduced unintended consequences for countries outside the measures. The Secretariat had received no official request from a member state to monitor such consequences since 2003, she said.
She nevertheless called for stronger Secretariat capacity to assess sanctions’ humanitarian and socioeconomic effects. Gabon’s representative also expressed concern about uncontrolled implementation and consequences for small countries, other affected states and populations.
South Korea’s representative supported efforts to improve targeted sanctions and reduce unintended humanitarian harm. She said countries needed to implement the measures in good faith for them to work.
The discussions took place in the General Assembly’s Sixth Committee, which handles legal affairs. Delegates considered the work of the Special Committee on the UN Charter, the treaty setting out the organisation’s purposes and principles.
Equatorial Guinea’s representative said the Special Committee offered countries a place to seek agreement on peace and security. He acknowledged that it could not immediately resolve conflicts, declining international cooperation or selective application of international law.
Belarus’s representative said countries should apply the Charter consistently rather than use it for short-term political purposes. He supported Security Council sanctions as a lawful means of maintaining peace, while saying their implementation must meet the necessary requirements.
Disagreement sharpened over Russia’s conduct. Ukraine’s representative, also speaking for Georgia and Moldova, said Russian aggression and occupation violated the Charter and damaged international peace and security.
Russia’s representative disputed that characterisation and said Moscow was acting in self-defence. Ukraine’s representative said accountability for Russia’s aggression was necessary to restore respect for the Charter.
Qatar’s representative said Doha had made diplomatic efforts toward a peaceful settlement preserving freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. He described mediation as central to resolving disputes peacefully.
Brazil’s representative welcomed the Special Committee’s adoption of its report by consensus for a second consecutive year. She said international disagreements had previously prevented agreement and that current challenges reinforced the need to uphold the Charter.
