1- What is the purpose of the United Nations' targeted financial sanctions related to terrorism, its financing, and the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and how does it impose them?
The United Nations aims to maintain international peace and security by adopting resolutions—issued by the UN Security Council or its sanctions committees—that require member states to implement sanctions that block the ability of terrorists and terrorist organizations to dispose of their financial assets, prevent the provision of support for WMD proliferation activities and programs, and restrict the movement of payments and capital related to terrorism and WMD proliferation activities. These resolutions include, but are not limited to:
A - Resolutions related to terrorism and its financing, namely:
- UN Security Council Resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) and subsequent resolutions.
- UN Security Council Resolution 1989 (2011) and subsequent resolutions.
- UN Security Council Resolution 1373 (2001).
B - Resolutions related to the financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, namely:
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1718 (2006) and subsequent resolutions.
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015).
2- What is the Security Council's purpose behind targeted financial sanctions?
Under Article (41) of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, and to maintain or restore international peace and security, the Security Council adopts punitive measures not requiring the use of armed force to implement its resolutions and requests UN members to implement them. These measures focus primarily on supporting a political solution to conflicts, promoting nuclear non-proliferation, and combating terrorism, by imposing comprehensive financial and trade sanctions and more targeted ones, such as arms embargoes, travel bans, and financial or commodity restrictions.
3- Where can I find the names of individuals listed (UN) under the targeted financial sanctions regime?
The list of individuals included on the (UN) list can be viewed on the following websites:
- The United Nations website, which includes the names of individuals (individuals/entities) included on the Security Council's consolidated targeted financial sanctions lists, at the link (https://www.un.org/sc/suborg/en/sanctions/un-sc-consolidated-list)
- The press releases page on the United Nations website, which shows changes to the Security Council's consolidated targeted financial sanctions lists and lists the names of newly targeted individuals (individuals/entities), at the link (https://www.un.org/press/en).
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