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International sanctions imposed on countries by the United Nations and member states, including Canada, clearly exempt humanitarian activities.  Nevertheless, sanctions cause serious challenges and delays for humanitarian actors working in countries like North Korea (the DPRK) and Venezuela, and sometimes result in harm to vulnerable populations.

Hear about the impact of political and economic sanctions on the provision of aid, and the impact they have on the delivery of neutral, impartial humanitarian assistance in these contexts.  What implications does this have for Canadian humanitarian actors? For Canadian foreign policy? How do we collectively fulfil our commitment to deliver humanitarian assistance in sanctioned countries?

The Canadian Red Cross, Mines Action Canada, Nobel Women’s Initiative, and The United Church of Canada have collaborated on this workshop, with the purpose of furthering our collective understanding of how sanctions impede our efforts to serve those most at risk.  The workshop will explore how sanctions prevent peacebuilding efforts, and inflict harm on civilian populations—with dire consequences on children, women and other vulnerable citizens.