Published on: 2026-09-09
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 9, 2026 Human Rights
Unilateral sanctions provoke severe humanitarian crises and serve as punishment for entire peoples due to political disputes over which they have no influence. This was stated on Wednesday by the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on human rights, Zaina Jalal.
She expressed concern about the expansion of the practice of applying sanctions worldwide—from Cuba to Iran. The independent expert noted that the current “escalation” in this area was preceded by six decades of the spread of unilateral sanctions imposed bypassing the UN Security Council and without taking into account the relevant obligations under international law. The consequences of these measures are often exacerbated by the “risk reduction” policy and the excessive zeal of third parties in complying with sanctions restrictions, Jallad emphasized while presenting her report at the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council.
In Cuba, entire generations live under restrictions related to US sanctions, the Special Rapporteur recalled. According to her, these measures hinder Cubans’ enjoyment of their fundamental rights, including the rights to food, healthcare, education, international cooperation, and humanitarian assistance, as well as limiting their access to essential public services and infrastructure.
“These measures restrain economic growth and development, increase the debt burden, and worsen the living conditions of entire populations that do not take part in the political disputes that caused the sanctions to be imposed,” noted the Special Rapporteur. “The population becomes a hostage to a situation in which their fundamental rights are violated, and this most severely affects the most vulnerable groups, including people with chronic illnesses and disabilities.”
The expert report presents a conceptual approach that unites the principles of universality of human rights, analyzes the experience of the affected population, the mechanisms of harm inflicted on them, as well as obligations to prevent violations, compensate damages, restitution, and restoration of rights. This methodology deepens, systematizes, and expands the human rights approach developed during the first 11 years of the Special Rapporteur on sanctions mandate (established at the end of 2014).
“Including these elements as an integral part of the analysis within the mandate is crucial during a deep crisis of the multilateral world order, when populations suffering from unilateral coercive measures can increasingly less rely on the protective mechanisms provided by this system,” Jallad said.
“Sanctions ‘intimidate states’, create an atmosphere of fear throughout the international system, undermine multilateral cooperation, and jeopardize the rule of international law,” she added.
Recently, judges and prosecutors of the International Criminal Court, as well as human rights defenders and the UN Special Rapporteur, have also become targets of unilateral sanctions, Jallad recalled.
Special Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to examine either situations in specific countries or thematic issues worldwide. They are part of the Council’s special procedures. Special procedure experts are not UN staff and are independent of any government or organization. They work in a personal capacity and do not receive a salary for their work.
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