Illegal Economic Sanctions as Collective
Punishment
U.S. Sanctions Violate Human Rights and International Code of Conduct
- UN Office of the High Commissioner on
Human Rights -
An independent expert appointed by the Human Rights
Council [of the United Nations] has expressed deep concern at the
recent imposition of unilateral coercive measures on Cuba, Venezuela
and Iran by the United States, saying the use of economic sanctions for
political purposes violates human rights and the norms of international
behaviour. Such action may precipitate man-made humanitarian
catastrophes of unprecedented proportions.
"Regime change through economic measures likely to lead to the denial
of basic human rights and indeed possibly to starvation has never been
an accepted practice of international relations," said Idriss Jazairy,
the UN Special Rapporteur concerned with the negative impact of
sanctions. "Real concerns and serious political differences between
governments must never be resolved by precipitating economic and
humanitarian disasters, making ordinary people pawns and hostages
thereof."
 The implementation of Title III of
the Helms-Burton Act --
allowing U.S.
citizens to file lawsuits against Cuban entities and foreign companies
over property seized and used following Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution
-- ignored protests by the European Union and Canada and was a direct
attack on European and Canadian companies in Cuba, where they are the
top foreign investors.
"The resort by a major power of its dominant position in the
international financial arena against its own allies to cause economic
hardship to the economy of sovereign States is contrary to
international law, and inevitably undermines the human rights of their
citizens," the Special Rapporteur said.
On 17 April the United States banned the Central Bank of Venezuela from
conducting transactions in U.S. dollars after 17 May, and will cut off
access to U.S. personal remittances and credit cards by March 2020.
"It is hard to figure out how measures which have the effect of
destroying Venezuela's economy, and preventing Venezuelans from sending
home money, can be aimed at 'helping the Venezuelan people', as claimed
by the U.S. Treasury," the expert said.
His statements follow claims in a recent report published by the
Washington-based Centre for Economic and Policy Research that 40,000
people may have died in Venezuela since 2017 because of U.S. sanctions.
Jazairy also said he was concerned the U.S. would not renew waivers for
international buyers of Iranian oil, despite protests from NATO ally
Turkey, among others. Washington has demanded that all remaining States
which benefited from waivers stop purchases on May 1, or face sanctions.
 "The extraterritorial application
of unilateral sanctions is clearly
contrary to international law," the expert said. "I am deeply concerned
that one State can use its dominant position in international finance
to harm not only the Iranian people, who have followed their
obligations under the UN-approved nuclear deal to this day, but also
everyone in the world who trades with them.
"The international community must come together to challenge what
amounts to blockades ignoring a country's sovereignty, the human rights
of its people, and the rights of third countries trading with
sanctioned States, all while constituting a threat to world peace and
security.
"I call on the international community to engage in constructive
dialogue with Venezuela, Cuba, Iran and the United States to find a
peaceful resolution in compliance with the spirit and letter of the
Charter of the United Nations before the arbitrary use of economic
starvation becomes the new 'normal.'"
This article was published in
Volume 49 Number 17 - May 11, 2019
Article Link:
Illegal Economic Sanctions as Collective
Punishment: U.S. Sanctions Violate Human Rights and International Code of Conduct - UN Office of the High Commissioner on
Human Rights
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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