Sanctions
UN Security Council Sanctions
In situations where the UN Security Council has determined the existence of a threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or an act of aggression, the Charter of the United Nations (the Charter) authorises it to decide on measures to be taken to maintain or restore international peace and security (Charter Article 39).
Members of the United Nations are legally bound to accept and carry out these measures (Charter Article 25).
Those measures that do not involve the use of armed force are known as "sanctions".
More information on UN Security Council sanctions
- What measures are imposed as UN Security Council sanctions?
- How are UN Security Council sanctions implemented in Australia?
- What UN Security Council sanctions regimes are currently in place?
Australia's autonomous sanctions
"Autonomous sanctions" are punitive measures not involving the use of armed force that the Australian Government chooses to take (as opposed to measures it is obliged to take by virtue of UNSC resolution) as a foreign policy response to situations of international concern.
These measures seek to apply pressure on regimes to desist in the repression of human rights and democratic freedoms, or the pursuit of internationally or regionally destabilising policies (such as WMD proliferation), or to prevent regime leaders using Australia as a haven for misappropriated state or other funds.
In some instances, autonomous sanctions may be used to supplement UNSC sanctions.
More information on Australian autonomous sanctions
- What measures are imposed as autonomous sanctions?
- What countries are subject to autonomous sanctions?
Queries on sanctions
In the first instance, queries on the application of sanctions maintained by the Australian Government should be directed by email to:
Director
Sanctions and Transnational Crime
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
e-mail: sanctions@dfat.gov.au
The information on this site is advisory only and subject to change. Please direct all enquiries to sanctions@dfat.gov.au.