The Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, Alena Douhan, undertook an official country visit to the Syrian Arab Republic from 31 October to 10 November 2022 to examine the impact of unilateral sanctions on the enjoyment of human rights in the country and on the right to development. She concludes that sanctions, secondary sanctions and different forms of overcompliance have a serious negative impact on the country’s economy, leading to serious violations of human rights and humanitarian challenges, which have been exacerbated by the long-lasting conflict, as well as the recent coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The comprehensiveness of existing unilateral sanctions regimes against the Syrian Arab Republic and the growing overcompliance, in particular following the imposition in 2019 of the Caesar Syrian Civilian Protection Act by the United States of America, have placed the country in a straitjacket with serious adverse effects on a broad spectrum of human rights. The Special Rapporteur recommends lifting unilateral sanctions to avoid de-risking policies and overcompliance in accordance with international legal standards and the due diligence rule and calls upon the international community and humanitarian actors to step up efforts to mitigate the adverse humanitarian impact of unilateral coercive measures.