A funny UN Proposal: Sanctioning Peace Spoilers?

The British-drafted resolution, obtained Monday by The Associated Press, does not name any individuals or entities that should face a freeze of their assets and travel ban.

A proposed U.N. Security Council resolution would authorize sanctions against individuals and organizations threatening peace, security or stability, like in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Lebanon, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Afghanistan…

EDITH M. LEDERER, from the Associated Press, published this Feb. 24, 2014

UN Proposal Would Sanction Peace Spoilers in Yemen

Instead, the British-drafted resolution would establish a committee to decide who should face sanctions and to monitor their implementation, and a panel of experts to assist the committee.

Yemen has been struggling with a transition to democracy since the “Arab Spring” protests in 2011 that forced longtime ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down after 33 years as president.

A transitional government led by President Abed Rabbu Mansour Hadi is trying to deal with insecurity and terrorist attacks, promote national reconciliation, draft a new constitution and hold elections.

As a months-long national dialogue aimed at mapping out the country’s future ended on Jan. 25, Hadi pledged to form commissions to draft a constitution and work out details of a new federation for the country.

When British rule ended in 1967 southerners formed an independent state, but in 1990 the south joined a unified Yemen.

A 1994 attempt by southerners to regain independence was crushed in a three-month civil war, but many in the south still support independence.

While Hadi’s government is battling al-Qaida militants, several Yemeni security officials say supporters of ex-president Saleh with links to the country’s security and intelligence agencies have quietly backed al-Qaida fighters to undermine the government.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.

The proposed Security Council resolution condemns the growing number of attacks carried out or sponsored by Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the terrorist group’s Yemen branch. (A too general statement, given it is Saudi Arabia who is funding and supporting all of Al Qaeda factions everywhere, and particularly in Yemen, Syria and Iraq and cooperating very closely with Israel in the planing and execution of the terrorist operations)

It welcomes the road map for a Yemeni-led political transition agreed on by all political parties at the national dialogue conference and expresses strong support for the next steps: drafting a constitution, poll reforms including the drafting of a new electoral law, holding a referendum on the draft constitution, reforming the government to move from a single to a federal state, and timely general elections.

A resolution adopted by the Security Council in June 2012 threatened non-military sanctions against those trying to undermine Yemen’s transition to democracy. (It is the military shipments that should be sanctioned)

The proposed new resolution determines “that the situation in Yemen constitutes a threat to international peace and security in the region.”

It authorizes an asset freeze and travel ban under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which can be enforced militarily, against those “engaging in or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen.”

The draft states that those subject to sanctions may include — but are not limited to — individuals or entities undermining completion of Yemen’s political transition, engaging in acts of violence or terrorism or attacks on essential infrastructure, and planning or committing human rights abuses.

Note: A few proposals are indulging in the absurd.

How the poor and troubled countries can reform within economical and financial sanctions?

How societies with over 50% unemployment can get out of this morass when the unemployed and unemployable youth are roaming the streets and finding no opportunities to maneuver within their stagnating life?

How these “down on their luck youth communities” can expect any earning potentials when the only deals with the powerful States are mainly weapon transactions?

Data are from ILO’s Global Employment Trends for Youth 2013 report.

Regional data are from ILO’s 2012 preliminary estimates; U.S. and E.U. data are from the OECD’s second quarter 2012 data.