This expert consultation is organized on the initiative of the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Alena Douhan. Due to the sensitivity matters for discussion, it will be held under the Chatham House Rule. The expected outcome of the consultation in the format of recommendations will assist both Special Rapporteur in the preparation of her thematic reports to be presented before the UN Human Rights Council at its 48th session in September 2021 and General Assembly at its 76th session in October 2021.
Regarding the unilateral sanctions, a particular emphasis will be placed on the humanitarian exemptions, which apparently remain ineffective, inefficient and inadequate. Moreover, experts will examine the multiple forms of humanitarian exemptions and practical impediments they create for delivery of aid to the most vulnerable people. Regarding the context of any emergency, including COVID-19 pandemic, special attention will be paid to the relevant practice, jurisprudence and criteria to how humanitarian exemptions are applied and under which circumstances and why they must not be administered based on permission but rather operationalized on the basis of registration.
In other words, the experts will discuss why it is important that exemptions within the unilateral sanctions be designed on the presumption that the stated purpose is actually humanitarian, with a burden of proof on others to show it is not. Whether it is necessary that States, international organizations and other relevant actors are to review and minimize the whole scope of unilateral sanctions, to ensure that the humanitarian exemptions are effective, efficient and fully adequate with the view to enable sanctioned States to protect their populations in the face of COVID-19, repair their economies and guarantee the well-being of their people in the aftermath of the pandemic.
The event will involve experts and representative of NGO engaged in field of delivering humanitarian aid coming from different legal systems, religions and traditions, who are based in Geneva. The overall goal of the meeting is to reflect upon the extent to which the humanitarian exemptions comply with the existing international human rights standards. Experts will address the remaining protection gaps, over compliance and discrepancies in the imposition of unilateral sanctions their impact on delivery of humanitarian aid.
