Fourth Freedom Forum

Published purpose

This program aims to create a model checklist that can be adapted by government sanctions units to support the targeted design of sanctions that incorporates key humanitarian considerations. It is designed to assist those who impose sanctions to identify, and in turn mitigate, potential unintended humanitarian impacts and possible collateral consequences, while maintaining and improving sanctions effectiveness and legitimacy. The checklist includes data analysis of economic performance of the nation, public budgetary allocations relating to the general welfare of the population, and considerations linked to global finance and trade. Other categories address basic socio-economic needs, wider civil society activities, and humanitarian assistance that could be impacted by sanctions. The categories and indicators reflect international law, including international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and international refugee law considerations. The checklist ends with a specific list of mitigating measures which could be considered by governments in order both to bolster alignment with international humanitarian law to minimize possible unintended humanitarian impacts of sanctions.