A/HRC/27/32 11. Mr. Younis pointed out that the results of the surveys sparked questions about what was accomplished through sanctions, and challenged the assumption that sanctions would be able to reverse a situation. 12. Mr. Peksen noted that his research showed that, in most cases, economic sanctions were more likely to fail in their purpose than to achieve the intended results. They tended to be ineffective, counterproductive and detrimental to basic freedoms and rights. Targeted elites were generally able to evade their effects, doing whatever they could to resist the pressure and maintain credibility, often leading to higher levels of oppression to maintain power, with disproportionate impacts on vulnerable groups, children, women and minorities. Economic sanctions often reduced women’s level of labour participation, as women were often involved in export-oriented industries, such as textiles and the assembly of electronic devices. Sanctions could also cause more violence against women, as growing frustration and feelings of injustice led to a rise in crime in targeted countries, including assault and rape. Examples included Cuba, Haiti and Iraq. Sanctions failed to affect elites or to promote reform in the targeted State, but also had effects on neighbouring countries, which might suffer economically from the reduction in trade or see an influx of refugees or an increase in levels of violence. Negative spillover effects could have a regional impact. Mr. Peksen concluded that blunt economic measures were not useful, and suggested a focus instead on types of smart sanctions that could reduce military expenditure support and more directly target leaders. 13. The Chair welcomed the presentations by the panellists and referred to further examples demonstrating the harmful effects of sanctions, including the effects on third parties, such as Jordan, of sanctions against Iraq, and the way in which the relevant sanctions committee of the Security Council had interpreted the humanitarian exceptions, refusing for example to allow Cuba to export baby food to occupied Kuwait. She proposed that the General Assembly should request special reports from the Security Council, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, on its adoption of sanctions and their impact. 14. In the ensuing interactive dialogue, Denis Halliday, former United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Iraq; a representative of the Hawa Society for Women; Obiora Okafor, Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School and member of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee; and a representative of the Institut international pour la paix, la justice et les droits de l’homme took the floor. Several speakers questioned whether it was possible to make a distinction between different types of sanctions, and in particular whether smart sanctions were superior. A number of speakers drew attention to the sanctions against the Sudan, stating that those had negative effects on the realization of the Millennium Development Goals and human rights, including the rights to health, to an adequate standard of living and to education. 15. Responding to questions and points raised, Mr. Peksen said that sanctions were sometimes used for symbolic purposes, which could be useful, but that there was no significant evidence that smart sanctions were better than others. He suggested that perhaps travel bans should be imposed and the wealth of leaders should be targeted. Mr. Younis stated that it was difficult to assess the impact of smart sanctions globally, but surveys similar to that conducted in the Islamic Republic of Iran could be carried out elsewhere. Ms. Zangana stated that the question of sanctions was a fundamentally moral one about who was entitled to impose them and affect the access of others to water, food and health care. She questioned their long-term impacts on how people saw one another and built future dialogue. 16. Summing up session 1, the Chair highlighted the relationship between the legality and effectiveness of unilateral coercive measures. The legal basis of sanctions imposed outside the auspices of the Security Council once the latter had taken measures against a 6