Hundreds of lawyers from around the world have united in a joint letter to U.S. President Joe Biden, calling for an immediate end to unilateral economic sanctions imposed by the United States. According to a report by Bloomberg, the letter condemns these sanctions as a form of collective punishment against ordinary civilians and a violation of international law.
The United States has long utilized unilateral political, economic, and financial sanctions against sovereign nations, businesses, banks, and institutions. Critics argue that these measures have led to serious difficulties and humanitarian crises in various countries across the globe.
One of the most affected nations is Cuba. Following the Cuban Revolution in 1959, the U.S. imposed severe sanctions on Cuba starting in 1960. These measures included a total economic, trade, finance, and travel blockade, as well as the freezing of Cuban assets in America. For over six decades, more than 10 million Cuban people have endured hardships due to shortages of food, fuel, daily necessities, and medical supplies.
The situation was exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic between 2020 and 2022. Due to the ongoing sanctions, Cuba struggled to access essential medical materials and equipment, such as respirators, leading to significant loss of life among its citizens.
The lawyers’ letter emphasizes the urgent need to reconsider these policies, highlighting the detrimental impact on human rights and international relations. They argue that lifting unilateral sanctions would alleviate unnecessary suffering and promote a more equitable, rule-based international order.
Reference(s):
U.S. Unilateral Sanctions: Stifling rule-based international order
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