UN Official Urges Lifting of Venezuela Sanctions
The United Nations special rapporteur for human rights called on the U.S., the European Union and other countries to lift their unilateral sanctions against Venezuela, saying the measures are disproportionately affecting innocent civilians, nongovernmental organizations and third-country companies. U.S. sanctions are having an especially “severe” impact, the official, Alena Douhan, said Feb. 12. The restrictions are impeding the flow of humanitarian aid as well as “necessary machinery” and essential goods such as electricity, water, fuel and food. “The devastating effect of sanctions imposed is multiplied by extra-territoriality and over-compliance adversely affecting” Venezuela, Douhan said, adding that she plans to issue a comprehensive report on the sanctions in September.
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
Export Compliance Daily combines U.S. export control news, foreign border import regulation and policy developments into a single daily information service that reliably informs its trade professional readers about important current issues affecting their operations.
A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. imposes “targeted sanctions” aimed at the Nicolas Maduro regime, which are not intended to impact humanitarian aid. “U.S. sanctions targeting Maduro, his allies, and those who support them are designed to allow the continued flow of humanitarian goods and services to the Venezuelan people,” a spokesperson said in a Feb. 16 email. “We are working to ensure that the provision of assistance to the Venezuelan people is not impeded by our sanctions program, which is intended to target the illegitimate Maduro regime and its enablers.” The Treasury Department didn’t comment. The U.S. Government Accountability Office said this month that the Treasury isn’t doing enough to limit the impacts of sanctions on humanitarian aid delivery to Venezuela (see 2102100020).