The Sanctions Program SPITS
The Special Program on International Targeted Sanctions (SPITS) looks at sanctions used by the UN Security Council according to Chapter VI and Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The SPITS Sanctions List contains all such sanctions, both ongoing and terminated.
Background
Sanctions research has long been associated with the Department of Peace and Conflict Research. SPITS was initiated as the "The Stockholm Process on the Implementation of Targeted Sanctions" by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs together with the Department in November 2001. The result of the Stockholm Process, The Stockholm Report: "Making Targeted Sanctions Effective" was delivered to the Security Council on February 25, 2003.
Current Focus
- Deepening academic research on targeted sanctions, in systematic studies
- Contributing to policy making in the sanctions field, by producing reports based on research
- Hosting and updating the SPITS Sanctions list
The SPITS Sanctions List
SPITS works specifically on sanctions that have been used by the UN Security Council according to Chapter VI and Chapter VII of the UN Charter. This website lists all ongoing and terminated sanctions that have been instituted through such decisions. The list is organised according to the targeted country.
The Stockholm Process
The Stockholm Process contains different types of international meetings. The Swedish Government Offices have assigned Uppsala University and its Department of Peace and Conflict Research to lead the scientific and practical work. The Stockholm Process has achieved a broad global participation.
Targeted Studies
SPITS conducts studies on:
- sanctions in certain regions: notably Iraq Pdf, 912 kB., Burma/Myanmar Pdf, 75 kB., Western Africa Pdf, 535 kB. and Angola Pdf, 236 kB..
- specific types of sanctions: notably arms trade and individual sanctions. "United Nations Arms Embargoes: Their Impact on Arms Flows and Target Behaviour" is a key such report.
- senders of sanctions: notably EU and comparisons of EU and the UN.
- sanctions in peacebuilding situations, where also positive sanctions are of interest.
Recent resolutions by the UNSC
Afghanistan
13 December 2024 – With Resolution 2763 the Security Council decides that all states shall continue to freeze assets, ban travel and prevent supply of arms for the Taliban and individuals associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan as designated by the Committee in the 1988 Sanction List (”the List”).
The mandate of the Monitoring Team is extended for a period of 14 months from the current mandate that expires in December 2024.
Somalia
13 December 2024 – With Resolution 2762 the Security Council decides to renew the arms embargo set out in resolution 2182 (2014) and expanded to cover IED components with resolution 2607 (2021) until 28 February 2025. The mandate of the Panel of Experts is renewed until 31 March 2025.
Collaboration
The program collaborates with the Sanctions and Security Research Program which is a project of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, and also with the UN Targeted Sanctions Consortium, based at The Graduate Institute, Geneva and the Watson Institute at Brown University.
About SPITS
Meet the team and read more about research on sanctions at the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies.