Abstract
Sanctions are penalties or restrictions imposed by a state, group
of states or an international organization on another state,
usually involved in the act of international delinquency, to
compel that state to amend its behaviour or to change its
conduct or policies. At present, sanctions have become an
important tool of coercion which the United Nations (UN) applies
against states that are indulged in threatening of international
law or peace and established international norms. However,
these measures can have immense effects for the targeted state
and its population as a whole. The UN sanctions imposed on
Iraq from 1990 to 2003 are considered the most comprehensive
and effectively enforced sanctions. This case is an example of
the grave cost in human suffering that sanctions can exert on a
country which turns into almost a breakdown in economic, social
and political structures. Due to its effects on Iraqi populace, UN
sanctions tool has earned huge criticism from many
commentators, stakeholders and international elites. An account
will be provided of the effects of thirteen years long UN
sanctions on Iraq and causing factors. During this thirteen years
period, a criminal silence on the part of Organization of Islamic
Conference (OIC), Arab League and international community
has been observed. Russia and China, the permanent members
of the Security Council (SC), were not more than spectators
during the period for some dubious reasons. The UN, the most
prestigious international organization, strengthened the
perception that it was a porous body and played a second fiddle
to the U.S. It cannot be rejected that UN has been mostly
protecting the interests of powerful nations. Furthermore, efforts
would be made to figure out some useful recommendations for
the improvement of UN sanctions mechanism so that the
sufferings of the sanctioned society could be reduced in future
sanctions regimes.
Key Words: Iraq, United Nations, Comprehensive Economic Sanction,
Security Council Resolutions, UN Sanctions Regime, Effects
Khalid Manzoor Butt, Anam Abid Butt . (2014) UN Sanctions Against Iraq: From Ailment to Chronic , Journal of Political Studies, Volume 21, Issue 2.
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