Sanctions are at the very heart of the collective security framework of the UN Charter. The international community currently faces the highest number of UN sanctions regimes in the history of the UN. Indeed, sanctions are an exceptionally adaptable instrument, protecting vulnerable populations and the stated in general from the predation of armed groups and terrorists and preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. All in all, they are recognised by all UNSC members as an effective tool, concentrating on interventionist measures to maintain or restore international peace and security. The key to the effectiveness of the UN sanctions system comes down to the way it engages with the UN Member-States. Thus, the effective implementation of sanctions required as sanctions must be part of an overall political package and not an end in themselves. All in all, under the collective security framework of the UN Charter, sanctions are a shared responsibility between the UNSC and UN Member-States.
