Making Targeted Sanctions Effective - Small Arms Survey

THE STOCKHOLM PROCESS | 32
tor actors on sanctions related issues, as well as to develop strategies
and inducements for improved industry standards in ways that can
be leveraged to complement the objectives of targeted sanctions and
contribute to their implementation.
Relations with Media
§ 60 As both a source of information that may provide useful investigative
leads and as a conduit for promoting well-informed public
awareness of the course of UN sanctions efforts, the media are an indispensable
partner for improved sanctions implementation. Given
the wide room that exists for public misperception to undermine
UN sanctions efforts, as well as the remedial potential of greater
transparency, improved relations with the international media should
be a priority area. Particular areas of priority include: improving the
UN’s capacity to communicate with accredited UN correspondents,
promoting transparency in the application of targeted sanctions;
conveying a better understanding to a broader public regarding the
scope and purpose of particular targeted sanctions regimes, particularly
in sanctions-affected countries (see Part IV); improved public
dissemination of the reports of Expert Panels and Monitoring
Mechanisms, including efforts to prevent unauthorized leaks that
undermine their credibility, and more skillful and systematized utilization
of open information sources in on-going efforts to monitor
and enforce targeted sanctions.
§ 61
One way of accomplishing these objectives would be to improve the
quality and profile of briefings on the work of Sanctions Committees
and Expert Panels. The Secretary General’s spokesperson regularly
informs the media of decisions made by the Security Council
but is not expected to promote the implementation of sanctions.
The designation of a Security Council spokesperson may be desirable
in this regard. Currently, the Chairs of the Sanctions Committees
act as spokespersons for the Committee, but their effectiveness
could be enhanced if they were provided with adequate professional
support or if the function of spokesperson were assigned to another
specially designated individual.