Sanctions

The United Nations uses "sanctions", or the necessary means to combat violations of agreements regarding human rights among the member nations: Interestingly, the term "sanction" is never used in the Charter of the United Nations. However, the charter frequently describes the actions that the United Nations is allowed to take when a member state is in violation of an agreement. There are various forms of sanctions depending on the seriousness of the crime of the offending nation. These include Embargos, Exclusion, Suspension, Expulsion and Military Force.

Embargo

Essentially, an embargo refers to a state authority limiting, interrupting or terminating a country's economic activity. Used in during both war and peace, this type of sanction may include the import and export of goods, currency, and even information. Embargo is frequently used as a non-violent measure against states that pose as a threat to international security.

Article 41 of the Charter of the United Nations describes the various restrictions that embargos can enforce:

The Security Council may decide what measures not involving the use of armed force are to be employed to give effect to its decisions, and it may call upon the Members of the United Nations to apply such measures. These may include complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic, radio, and other means of communication, and the severance of diplomatic relations.

This type of sanction was used against South Africa to combat Apartheid. There were restrictions on trade, and South African vessels were not allowed to use ports. The United Nations Seucrity Council "recommended that states should cease 'forthwith, the sales and shipment of arms, ammunition of all types and military vehicles to South Africa'". (Ojo, Bamidele A., Human Rights and the New World Order: Universality, Acceptability and Human Diversity.
Commack, NY, USA: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., 1997)

Exclusion

Article 19 of the Charter of the United Nations states that a state that does not contribute financially to the United Nations "shall have no vote in the General Assembly if the amount of its arrears equals or exceeds the amount of the contributions due from it for the preceding two full years". At the same time, the state may have the power to vote, at the discretion of the General Assembly. It must be noted that this sanction is not used against violation of human rights.

Suspension

In Article 5 of the Charter of the United Nations, it is stated that when advised by the Security Council, the General Council has the power to suspend the priveleges of a member state. A member state lacking these membership rights is arguably less powerful than a non-member state. These priveleges can be reinstated by the Security Council.

Expulsion

Expulsion essentially refers to the withdrawal of a member state from the United Nations. However, there is a difference between expulsion and voluntary withdrawal. Expulsion is a sanction, which means that it is done against the will of a nation. Member states that are expelled have usually repeatedly violated agreements stated in various charters or agreements. Expulsion is considered a very serious form of sanction. When there was a debate regarding the adoption of this sanction, some members argued that it was far too severe. At the same time, it was also argued that it would be "better to remove completely" an offending state to prevent it from "corrupt[ing] the Organisation" (7 UN Conference International Organization Documents 1945 p330-331). Furthermore, the expelled nation "would still be bound by various obligations devolving upon non-member state" (ibid).

Military Force

Military force is the most serious, but least frequently used form of sanction. Military force is used as a last resort, as Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations declares, "All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered." However, should the Security Council deem peaceful sanctions ineffective, it may recommend other member states of the United Nations to use military force against the offending nation. Military sanctions have been used against Iraq successfully in the past.