Switzerland Says It's Strengthening Sanctions Exemptions for Aid Groups

Switzerland is "strengthening" its humanitarian exemptions under its sanctions regimes to "provide greater clarity" to aid groups, the Swiss Federal Council said this month. The changes, which will take effect Sept. 15, build on the U.N.'s humanitarian exemptions that Switzerland adopted in 2023 (see 2304280023) and are "consistent with Switzerland's humanitarian tradition and its longstanding commitment to protecting humanitarian activities in situations affected by sanctions."

Switzerland also "specified and standardized" several sanctions measures involving its regulations for the "crediting of funds to blocked accounts as well as reporting obligations." The changes affect sanctions rules for Belarus, Burundi, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Moldova, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Zimbabwe, Syria, Ukraine, supporters of Hamas and the Palestinian Jihad, and Venezuela.