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
Libya
25 November 2025 – With Resolution 2804 the Security Council recalls the arms embargo on Libya imposed in 2011 (1970) and decides to further extend the authorizations on inspection of vessels carrying arms set out in resolution 2292 (2016), previously extended with resolution 2780 (2025) for a further 6 months from the date of this resolution.
Somalia
12 December 2025 – With Resolution 2806 the Security Council decides to renew until 30 November 2026 the provisions set out in in resolution 2182 (2014) and renewed earlier in 2025 with resolution 2776 to cover IED components. The mandate of the Panel of Experts is renewed until 31 December 2026.
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.