UN experts calls US to review sanctions against State Sponsors of Terrorist

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 9th Feb. UN experts on Thursday said that the United States must review its domestic framework that triggers sanctions against countries designated as State Sponsors of Terrorist.

Cuba, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Iran and Syria are on the US State Department’s SST list, the experts stated.

The experts said the unilateral designation “goes against the fundamental principles of international law, including the principle of sovereign equality of States, the prohibition to intervene into domestic affairs of states and the principle of peaceful settlement of international disputes.”

They noted that the fundamental human rights “are negatively affected by the additional restrictions and prohibitions triggered by SST designations”. 

The experts added that the process through which the designation is made is also unclear and non-transparent. 

They raised concerns on the negative impact of over-compliance with the US Government.

UN experts said additional restrictions and unilateral sanctions create a chilling effect, blocking access to designated countries. 

They warned “This all-encompassing isolation of the State designated as a sponsor of terrorism may negatively affect the delivery of essential goods, including food, medicine, medical equipment and other supplies, including humanitarian goods under UN Security Council humanitarian resolutions.”