Economic sanctions and breach of the right to education

Economic sanctions whether imposed unilaterally or on the basis of the chapter VII of the UN are a powerful means for enforcing a state to fulfill its international obligations. Sanctions, like or not, would have lasting negative impacts on the people of the targeted state. The right to education as an empowering right would not be excluded from the detrimental effects of the economic sanctions. Since this right is related to other human rights including the right to food, the right to water, the right to a basic standard of living, etc., it is directly or indirectly susceptible to breach. This right is considered as an inalienable right so that even the UN Security Council cannot ignore it for the purpose of protecting international peace and security. However, the Council, by adopting resolution 1737 (17) against Iran’s nuclear program, has violated the right to education of the Iranian citizens.