The Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,

Recalling the principles and the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations, the International Bill of Human Rights and other relevant international and regional human rights instruments,

Affirming the humanitarian principles contained in the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and to the two Additional Protocols thereto,

Recalling the principles established in the Declaration on Minimum Humanitarian Standards (E/CN.4/Sub.2/1991/55, annex),

Noting General Comment 8 of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights on the relationship between economic sanctions and respect for economic, social and cultural rights (E/C.12/1997/8), and considering that when a State is the target of sanctions, the international community must protect at least the core content of the economic, social and cultural rights of the affected people of that State,

Deeply concerned at reports from human rights and humanitarian organizations, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which refer to deteriorating humanitarian conditions in countries which have been affected by heavy sanctions, including embargoes, particularly as evidenced in increasing rates of child malnutrition and mortality and deteriorating health indicators,

Gravely disturbed at reports and reliable information from non-governmental organizations and other reliable sources concerning the serious consequences of embargoes for the population, in particular for vulnerable groups, including children, elderly people, women, persons belonging to minorities and indigenous peoples, and deploring the fact that embargoes all too often stimulate the black market and corruption,

1. Appeals to the Commission on Human Rights to recommend:

(a) To all competent organs, bodies and agencies of the United Nations system that they observe and implement all relevant provisions of human rights and international humanitarian law;

(b) To the Security Council that, as a first step, it alleviate sanctions regimes so as to eliminate their impact on the civilian population by permitting the import of civilian goods, in particular to ensure access to food and medical and pharmaceutical supplies and other products vital to the health of the population in all cases;

2. Encourages the international community to take appropriate and immediate measures to alleviate the suffering of people who are adversely affected by sanctions imposed upon their countries, in particular by facilitating the delivery of food and medical and pharmaceutical supplies and other products vital to the health of the population and providing educational material in order to reduce the isolation of health-care professionals and educators;

3. Urges Governments targeted by sanctions, as well as those Governments responsible for the implementation of those sanctions to respect their human rights and international peace and security obligations and to facilitate, by all available means, the alleviation of humanitarian crises in the countries concerned.
 
  17th meeting
11 August 2000
[Adopted without a vote. ]