Iraq
Sanctions Against Iraq and Human Rights:
a devastating, misguided, intolerable method
Multilateral sanctions imposed in application of Chapter VII of the United
Nations Charter and set out in a Security Council resolution
Sanctions against Iraq represent a substantial change in the manner sanctions are meted out by the Security Council. Up to
1990, economic sanctions had been imposed as a result of Security Council resolutions on only two countries, viz. South
Africa1 and Rhodesia2. In the case of South Africa, early sanctions were voluntary and were welcomed by opponents to
apartheid. After 1990, sanctions become more varied, as concerned the targeted countries, the objectives, and the ways and
means adopted. The following countries were concerned: Iraq, Libya, former Yugoslavia, Haiti, Somalia, Angola, Rwanda,
Liberia, Sudan, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia.
Sanctions had various effects. In the case of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, it is generally agreed that they effectively
contributed to changing the behaviour of Slobodan Milosevic, but the economic embargo had serious effects on the domestic
situation and on the standard of living of the population at large3. On the other hand, sanctions against Sierra Leone aimed at
bringing President Kabbah back to power were limited and are not to be blamed for triggering the problem of widespread
famine4. It was not the sanctions that brought President Kakkah back to power.
In general, efforts are made to adapt sanctions to the targeted goal. In the case of Angola, sanctions were levied on a party to
the peace process which did not respect signed agreements. The resolutions combined sanctions on the part of the country
controlled by UNITA5 and pressure to bring all parties back to the negotiating table6. Sanctions were levied on Libya because
of its involvement in international terrorism. Resolutions 748 (1992) and 883 (1993) were aimed at diplomatic posts and
airlines in order to break up networks that supported terrorist groups. A resolution was drawn up concerning Eritrea and
Ethiopia because of the conflict between these two countries, but the sanctions only concerned weapons7. Lastly, resolutions
against Taliban Afghanistan, inter alia, set out sanctions for non respect of human rights8.
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