A/HRC/28/74 I. Introduction 1. In the light of the increasing concerns regarding the adverse impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, 1 the Human Rights Council, in its resolution 19/32, requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to organize a workshop to explore the issue of the relationship of unilateral coercive measures and human rights, including the various aspects of the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights by the affected population, with the participation of States, academic experts and civil society representatives. The workshop, which was held in April 2013, examined the various issues and views relating to the issue, including the legitimacy of the said measures from the perspective of human rights. A number of conclusions and recommendations were submitted to the Council for its consideration, including a proposal that the Advisory Committee be tasked to conduct an overall review of independent mechanisms to assess the impact of unilateral coercive measures and to promote accountability. 2 2. In its resolution 24/14, the Human Rights Council requested the Advisory Committee to prepare a research-based report containing recommendations on mechanisms to assess the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights and to promote accountability. The present progress report, to be presented to the Council at its twenty-eighth session, was prepared pursuant to that request. In resolution 24/14, the Council also requested the Advisory Committee to seek the views and inputs of Member States and relevant special procedures, national human rights institutions and nongovernmental organizations during the preparation of the report. It requested OHCHR to organize a workshop on the impact of the application of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights by the affected populations, in particular the socioeconomic impact on women and children, in the States targeted, and to prepare a report on the proceedings of the workshop and to submit it to the Council at its twenty-seventh session. Pursuant to that request, a workshop was held on 23 May 2014 in Geneva and the proceedings of the workshop submitted to the Council at its twenty-seventh session.3 The progress report has also greatly benefited from the outcomes of the workshop. 3. Pursuant to Human Rights Council recommendation 12/6, the Advisory Committee established a drafting group comprising Mikhail Lebedev, Obiora Chinedu Okafor, Ahmer Bilal Soofi, Jean Ziegler and Imeru Tamrat Yigezu. The drafting group elected Mr. Ziegler as Chairperson and Mr. Yigezu as its Rapporteur.4 The Committee requested the drafting group to submit a draft progress report to the Committee at its thirteenth session, taking into account the replies to the questionnaire prepared during the twelfth session and subsequently circulated to Member States, relevant special procedures, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations. 4. Accordingly, the drafting group submitted a draft progress report to the Advisory Committee at its thirteenth session, in August 2014.5 At the session, members of the Committee as well as States and non-governmental organizations provided useful 1 2 3 4 5 See for example, General Assembly resolutions 66/156 and 67/170. See also A/65/199, A/66/138, A/67/181 and A/68/211. A/HRC/24/20, para. 31. See A/HRC/27/32. The members of the drafting group thank Herman Gill and Joanna Enns of the Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, Canada, and Mohammed Mahmood Al Hinai for their valuable research input to the present study. A/HRC/AC/13/CRP.2. 3