UN human rights expert urges relax of sanctions against Sudan

UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and international sanctions Idriss Jazairy on Tuesday urged states which have imposed unilateral coercive measures (UCMs) on Sudan to consider a review of their current policy.

The expert stressed that sanctions did not affect officials and elites, but rather greatly impacted innocent populations and called for states to limit the scope and time of UCMs and limit them to a specific purpose.

According to Jazairy, who just ended his first eight-day official visit to the country to assess the adverse impact of UCMs on the enjoyment of human rights, Sudan has been under sanctions for two decades without consideration of changes in the internal context.

"The signal given by compulsory measures is in contradiction with their proclaimed objectives," he said, referring to the recent tightening of international financial transfers with Sudan after the record fines imposed on European banks for having done business with the country.

Jazairy suggested broadening exemptions and including other vital areas "that preserve the enjoyment of fundamental human rights, including full access to health, education and other basic services, thus ensuring the right to development and to decent living."

He also urged states to relax the restrictions on financial transfers between the Sudanese living in the country and those abroad.

"Sudan is one amongst few countries that are still under comprehensive unilateral coercive sanctions," the UN Special Rapporteur noted, adding that the adverse impacts of UCMs on human rights in Sudan were clearly visible in the health sector.

The Special Rapporteur will present a comprehensive report on his visit to Sudan to the UN Human Rights Council in September 2016. Endit