Topic: 2026 – Implementation of Sanctions
Country: Zimbabwe
Delegate Name: Reni Bejko
8 December 2026
Submitted To: Special Committee on the United Nations Charter
From: Republic of Zimbabwe
Topic: Implementation of Sanctions
The Republic of Zimbabwe firmly believes in the ideas listed in the United Nations Charter, specifically the use of sanctions, an important, diplomatic, and peaceful alternative to violent measures as authorized in Article 41 of the Charter. However, Zimbabwe must note the fact that these sanctions must be precise, transparent, and time limited. Zimbabwe’s own historical experience with unilateral and multilateral sanctions proves that when implemented poorly, sanctions can harm the civilian population, undermine development, and further weaken trust in multilateral institutions and international cooperation.
The Republic of Zimbabwe urges the committee to discuss how sanctions impact state sovereignty, economic development, and humanitarian conditions, intentional or not. Zimbabwe urges the committee to discuss whether existing sanctions and the implementation process can adequately distinguish between the individual and the nation as a whole. Zimbabwe is also concerned about and urges the committee to discuss the fact that the sanction implementation process will contain due process, as Zimbabwe has been exposed to sanctions not approved by the UNSC.
The Republic of Zimbabwe supports the reformation of sanctions implementation that also respects state sovereignty and international law. Zimbabwe supports and encourages the creation of clearer safeguards within the UN sanction implementation process, such as standardizing the criteria for listing and delisting individuals and states with review mechanisms put in place as well. Zimbabwe also supports periodic economic and humanitarian assessments to properly ensure that sanctioned individuals do not cause the country’s civilian populations or economic development to be harmed in any way, ensuring that sanctions targeted at individuals or entities do not expand into the punishment of the state as a whole or undermine their economic growth. Zimbabwe believes that sanctions must only be enacted through the UNSC and opposes the bypassing of this procedure. To prevent this misuse, Zimbabwe supports clearer safeguards and guidelines, including stating the justification for listings of sanctions through the UNSC first, as well as standardized timelines for eventual delisting.
Zimbabwe’s position is based on Article 41 of the UN Charter, which gives the authority of imposing sanctions exclusively to the UNSC. Zimbabwe has historically aligned itself with positions in the African Union, UN General Assembly, and the Non-Aligned Movement, which all support that sanctions must be authorized by the UNSC and follow international law. Zimbabwe’s support of clearer due process protections and standardizing reporting procedures are already supported by UNSC sanctions committees, these methods are highly effective when properly implemented. Reports bythe UN Special Rapporteur on Uniliteral Coercive Measures and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have all supported and documented the negative effects of sanctions lacking multilateral oversight, as well as the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe that illegally bypassed UNSC approval.
The Republic of Zimbabwe reaffirms the idea that sanctions must remain a lawful, precise, transparent, and multilateral tool used in accordance with the UN Charter. Zimbabwe therefore calls upon the committee to pursue sanction reforms that protect state sovereignty, prevent economic and humanitarian harm, and firmly reject the illegal normalization of unilateral coercive sanctions to further strengthen the legitimacy and fairness of sanctions globally.
Works Cited:
https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text
https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/information
https://www.justsecurity.org/90394/the-united-nations-in-hindsight-un-security-council-sanctions
https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/delisting
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