Summary

In the report, the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights provides an overview and assessment of the notion, characteristics and legal status of unilateral sanctions. The report addresses the issue of terminology pertinent to the mandate and the legality of various forms of sanctions imposed by States and international organizations without or beyond the authorization of the Security Council, as concerns, inter alia, general international law, international economic law, human rights law and international humanitarian law. The report further covers the legal grounds, the particularities and the legality of sanctions imposed on individuals and non-State entities. The report also contains a discussion of the extraterritorial effects of unilateral sanctions, which raise particular concerns for the Special Rapporteur owing to the increasing number of reported cases of human rights violations.