Sanctions: Federal Council extends humanitarian exemptions

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Switzerland's sanctions ordinances are designed in such a way as not to impede humanitarian activities. Nevertheless, it was felt there was a need to provide greater clarity for humanitarian organisations. The Federal Council’s decision of 13 August serves to strengthen the protection afforded to humanitarian activities in sanctions ordinances based on EU sanctions. The new measures introduce comprehensive humanitarian exemptions in line with those already introduced by the Federal Council in 2023 in sanctions ordinances based on UN Security Council resolutions.

This decision is consistent with Switzerland's humanitarian tradition and its longstanding commitment to protecting humanitarian activities in situations affected by sanctions.

At the same time, the Federal Council has specified and standardised several measures in the area of financial sanctions. This concerns, among other things, regulations on the crediting of funds to blocked accounts as well as reporting obligations. The amendments concern sanctions ordinances pertaining to Belarus, Burundi, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Moldova, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Syria, Ukraine, supporters of Hamas and the Palestinian Jihad and Venezuela.

Links:

Switzerland to implement the humanitarian exemption to UN sanctions regimes (26 April 2023) news.admin.ch/en/nsb?id=94589

UN Security Council: humanitarian aid must reach those in need despite UN sanctions news.admin.ch/en/nsb?id=103466

Verordnung über die Harmonisierung der Sanktionsverordnungen