A/HRC/43/36 application of unilateral coercive measures. In that regard, the Special Rapporteur’s proposal that the International Law Commission be called upon to consider the issue of the obligation not to recognize unlawful situations arising from the imposition of unilateral coercive measures was very pertinent (ibid., para. 53). 27. Concrete actions and meaningful initiatives needed to be taken. An effective mechanism should be set up to help mitigate the impact of unilateral coercive measures. For example, a special representative of the Secretary-General could be appointed to address the matter and a special mechanism for the victims of unilateral coercive measures could be established. The measures necessary to implement the resolutions of the Human Rights Council on an international normative framework on unilateral coercive measures and the rule of law should be accelerated. 28. States that kept imposing sanctions should be held to account, including during the universal periodic review. All relevant human rights treaty bodies should mainstream, in their activities, issues related to the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights. Moreover, they should include monitoring human rights violations associated with such measures and promoting accountability for those responsible for human rights violations resulting from unilateral coercive measures as standing items on their agendas. 29. OHCHR should be sufficiently well equipped to provide affected countries with the technical assistance and advisory services needed to prevent, minimize and provide redress for the adverse effects of unilateral coercive measures on human rights. III. Summary of the proceedings 30. In his opening remarks, Mr. Valero invited the panellists to address a number of issues, including the issue of whether there was any difference between sanctions and unilateral coercive measures. He also asked whether all unilateral coercive measures were prohibited under international law, whether a definition of unilateral coercive measures needed to be included in a future United Nations declaration on the matter and what challenges States imposing sanctions on other States and ordinary people faced under international law. He then asked the panellists to elaborate on whether international law currently allowed for the employment of unilateral coercive measures and how making unilateral coercive measures illegal through a proposed United Nations declaration and possible treaty on the same matter could contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Mr. Valero also asked whether the panellists considered unilateral coercive measures to represent a challenge for the implementation of 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals and whether the adoption of a United Nations declaration on unilateral coercive measures was important for achieving the purposes and objectives of the 2030 Agenda. A. Contributions of panellists 31. The three panellists agreed and affirmed that all unilateral coercive measures were illegal and contrary to international law. States that used such measures must be held accountable, not only for hindering the realization of a democratic and equitable international order, the achievement of the purposes and objectives of 2030 Agenda and the enjoyment of an array of human rights, but also for violating the Charter of the United Nations and international law, in particular the principles of non-intervention, selfdetermination and the independence of States. A future United Nations declaration would constitute a timely response by the majority of the international community to stopping mass atrocities and serious human rights violations, as well as to creating an international legal framework for enforcing the accountability of perpetrators. 32. Ms. Douhan recalled that, since 2013, the United Nations had taken concrete steps to deal with the human rights violations caused by unilateral coercive measures. For example, the Human Rights Council had decided, in its resolution 27/21, to appoint the Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights and to organize a biannual panel discussion on the matter. Subsequently, the Council had repeatedly reaffirmed the illegal character of unilateral measures taken by 5