Australia Implements UN Security Council sanctions against Eritrea

On 23 December 2009 the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolution 1907, imposing sanctions against Eritrea in response to the ongoing border dispute between Djibouti and Eritrea, as well as Eritrea’s support to armed groups destabilising and undermining peace and reconciliation in Somalia, which the UNSC determined constituted a threat to international peace and security.

As a consequence, Australian law now prohibits the following conduct:

1. The supply, sale or transfer to Eritrea of arms and related materiel

• Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Eritrea) Regulations 2010, regulation 8
• Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations 1958, regulation 13CR

2. The procurement of arms or related materiel from Eritrea

• Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Eritrea) Regulations 2010, regulation 9
• Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, regulation 4ZA

3. The provision of technical assistance or training, financial or other assistance to Eritrea, related to

(a) military activities or
(b) the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of arms or related materiel

• Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Eritrea) Regulations 2010, regulation 10

4. The procurement of technical assistance or training, financial or other assistance from Eritrea or a person or entity in Eritrea, related to

(a) military activities or
(b) to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of arms and related materiel

• Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Eritrea) Regulations 2010, regulation 10

5. The supply of arms and related materiel to a person or entity listed by the Security Council or the Committee established pursuant to resolution 751 (1992) (“the Committee”) (no listings as yet)

• Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Eritrea) Regulations 2010, regulation 11

6. The provision of technical assistance, training, or financial services to a person or entity listed by the Security Council or the Committee (no listings as yet)

• Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Eritrea) Regulations 2010, regulation 11

7. The use or dealing with the assets of, and the making available of assets to, a person or entity listed by the Security Council or the Committee (no listings as yet) other than as authorised by a permit issued by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.

• Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions – Eritrea) Regulations 2010, regulations 12 and 13
• Charter of the United Nations (Dealing with Assets) Regulations 2008
• Consolidated list of persons, entities and assets subject to UN Security Council financial sanctions (Excel) as provided for by regulation 40 of the Charter of the United Nations (Dealing with Assets) Regulations 2008
• Australia's Implementation of United Nations Security Council Financial Sanctions

8. The entry or transit through Australia of persons listed by the Security Council or the Committee (no listings as yet).

• Migration (United Nations Security Council Resolutions) Regulations 2007

Contravention of a UN sanction enforcement law carries severe penalties and is a strict liability offence for bodies corporate. See How are UN sanctions implemented in Australia? for further information.