The Effectiveness of UN Arms Embargoes

IPI (formerly International Peace Academy) held a roundtable on a new report prepared by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University, co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN.

In partnership with the Swedish Permanent Mission to the UN, IPI ( formerly International Peace Academy ) hosted an expert roundtable for a new report on UN arms embargoes prepared by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Department of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University.

The report measured the effectiveness of UN arms embargoes by determining 1) whether they limited the flow of arms to embargoed targets, and 2) whether they compelled targets to conform to UN Security Council standards. The conclusions and policy recommendations contained in the report were based on quantitative and qualitative analyses of the 27 mandatory UN arms embargoes imposed during 1990-2006.

Panelists included Peter Wallensteen, Program Leader of the Special Program on the Implementation of Targeted Sanctions in Uppala University’s Department of Peace and Conflict Research, Siemon T. Wezeman, Project Leader of the Arms Transfers Project at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute,

The roundtable was chaired by H.E. Mr. Anders Lidén, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the United Nations, and Dr. Edward C. Luck, IPI Vice President and Director of Studies.