UN Security Council sanctions explained
- Regimes in place
- 15, as stated by the Security Council (accessed 20 October 2026) 1
- Regimes since 1966
- 31 1
- Expert groups
- 10 monitoring groups supporting 11 of the 15 committees 1
- Consolidated List size
- 736 individuals and 274 entities and other groups (list updated 15 October 2026) 3
- General delisting route
- Focal Point for De-listing, set up under resolution 1730 (2006) 4
- ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida route
- Office of the Ombudsperson, set up under resolution 1904 (2009) 5
Legal basis in the UN Charter
Under Article 39 of the UN Charter, the Security Council first determines the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace or act of aggression 2. It then decides what measures to take 2.
Article 41 lets the Council decide on measures that do not involve armed force and call on UN members to apply them 2. These may include complete or partial interruption of economic relations and of rail, sea, air, postal, telegraphic and radio links, and the severance of diplomatic relations 2.
The Council says sanctions range from broad economic and trade sanctions to targeted measures such as arms embargoes, travel bans and financial or commodity restrictions 1.
Sanctions committees
Each sanctions regime is administered by a sanctions committee chaired by a member of the Security Council 1. The Council lists 15 committees 1. The committee for South Sudan, for example, has all 15 Council members and makes its decisions by consensus 6.
The Council says the 15 current regimes focus on political settlement of conflicts, nuclear non-proliferation and counter-terrorism 1. Since 1966 it has set up 31 sanctions regimes 1.
Panels of experts and monitoring groups
The Council says 10 monitoring groups support 11 of the 15 sanctions committees 1. In the South Sudan regime, the committee is supported by a Panel of Experts 6. Panels and monitoring teams can be asked for information when a delisting request is reviewed 4.
The Consolidated List
The Consolidated List covers all individuals and entities subject to measures imposed by the Security Council 3. The version updated on 15 October 2026 lists 736 individuals and 274 entities and other groups 3. It is available as PDF, XML and HTML, sorted alphabetically or by permanent reference number 3.
The list combines names from many regimes. The UN says this does not mean that all names are listed under one regime or that the listing criteria are the same 3. The "Listed on" field gives the date a committee placed the person or entity on its list 3. A press release follows each change 3.
The UN says Member States are obliged to implement the measures that apply to each listed name, as set out on the relevant committee's website 3. Questions on the lists go to [email protected] 3.
Removal from a UN list
The Focal Point for De-listing was first set up under resolution 1730 (2006), adopted on 19 December 2006, and its mandate was strengthened by resolution 2744 (2024) 4. It handles requests for all committee lists other than the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida list 4. A listed person, or someone acting for them, can apply. A petitioner can apply through the state of residence or citizenship 4.
The Office of the Ombudsperson handles requests for the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List 5. It was set up under resolution 1904 (2009), and its mandate expires on 17 June 2027 under resolution 2734 (2024) 5. The Ombudsperson reports to the committee with a recommendation, and the committee decides 5.
Common questions
What legal power does the UN use for sanctions?
Article 41 in Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which covers measures not involving armed force 1,2.
How many UN sanctions regimes are there?
The Security Council lists 15 current regimes and says it has set up 31 since 1966 1.
Do countries have to apply UN sanctions?
The UN says Member States are obliged to implement the measures that apply to each listed name 3.
Where is the UN sanctions list?
On the Security Council's Consolidated List page, in PDF, XML and HTML 3.
How can someone be removed from a UN list?
Through the Focal Point for De-listing, or through the Ombudsperson for the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida list 4,5.
Rules and fees change. Check the official site linked above before you apply or pay. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.
Sources
- United Nations Security Council: Sanctions, information page (accessed 20 October 2026)
- United Nations: Charter of the United Nations, Chapter VII
- United Nations Security Council: Consolidated List (updated 15 October 2026)
- United Nations Security Council: Focal Point for De-listing (accessed 20 October 2026)
- United Nations Security Council: Office of the Ombudsperson to the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee (accessed 20 October 2026)
- United Nations Security Council: Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) concerning South Sudan (accessed 20 October 2026)
Related
- UN Security Council sanctions on South Sudan (resolution 2206)
The UN South Sudan sanctions regime under resolution 2206 (2015): travel ban, asset freeze, arms embargo, listed individuals and yearly renewals.
- How sanctions delisting works: OFAC, UK, EU and UN
The official routes to ask for removal from OFAC, UK, EU and UN sanctions lists: who to apply to, what to send, review steps and court options.
- EU sanctions (restrictive measures) explained
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- UK sanctions explained
How UK sanctions work: the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, the FCDO's UK Sanctions List, OFSI, asset freezes, penalties and challenges.
- Global Magnitsky sanctions explained
The Global Magnitsky Act of 2016 and Executive Order 13818: who can be designated, what designation does, and examples from Treasury releases.
- How to check a name against US, UK, EU and UN sanctions lists
Where to search OFAC, UK, EU and UN sanctions lists, how fuzzy matching works, what a match means, and why visa records cannot be searched.
- The UK Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021
What the UK Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021 do, who can be designated, the measures that apply and how to check a name.
- The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime
The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime: its legal basis, the abuses it covers, the travel ban and asset freeze, how listing works and current numbers.