Narges AKBARPOUR ROSHAN, Shirin MEHRBOD, Mohsen ABBASSI

The Impacts of Economic Sanctions on Sustainable Development: Focusing on Labor

Abstract. Health is crucial for sustainable development, both as an inalienable human right and an acceleration of the economic growth of countries. Health is also an appropriate measure of the progress of countries in achieving sustainable development. It contributes to development through productive employment. Therefore, it is necessary for each country to do detailed analysis of health situation in order to prevent declining health through preventive measures and proper policies, and to follow continuous improvement of the health situation in the country, contributing to the sustainable development. In this regard, this paper tries to consider the health effects of economic sanctions on Iranian people to show health situation in the country, and the need for paying more attention to the health in order to meet sustainable development. We have used a descriptive and analytical approach to study the impacts of economic sanctions on the health indicators, medicines and treatment, food security and pollution by macro-analysis. Results show that economic sanctions have had negative effects on people's health. In particular, the destructive consequences of sanctions are clear in the field of medicine and treatment, and air pollution and the environment. So, decision makers should be paying greater attention to these areas in order to improve the health of workers and achieve the goals of sustainable development.

Keywords:

Economic Sanctions Sustainable Development, Health, Iran,

PDF

___

Figure 22. Share of gasoline production in total gasoline consumption.
The negative impacts of sanctions on environment are not limited to air pollution. Putting
restrictions on the use of technology in factories damages the country's water resources, and
causes overuse of nonrenewable resources. Therefore, sanctions impose irreversible damage to the environment.
It should be noted that environmental issues are important to the world and the problems caused
by damaging environment will affect the rest of the world. So, undoubtedly negative
environmental consequences of broad sanctions on Iran, will affect the environment of the region
and the world. These concerns in the areas of air, water, land and biodiversity, have resulted in
environmental and social NGOs criticism about the sanctions against Iran. The removal of
sanctions will not only improve air quality and environmental conditions in Iran, but also will
help to decrease environmental concerns in the region. 3. CONCLUSION
The health of human resources and labor is a key element of sustainable development. By
improving the health of workforce, the acceleration of economic growth increases. So, it is
necessary to consider the health of human resources to achieve sustainable development.
Especially in the presence of a shock which can affect the health of the workforce, measures and
policies must be devised to prevent the reduction of health-related quality of life. One of the most
important shocks which have influenced Iran economy is sanctions. Sanctions can have
destructive effects on people's health, and therefore sustainable development.
In this regard, we have studied the impacts of economic sanctions on the health of Iranian people
(including labor) using a descriptive and analytical approach. We analyzed health effects of
sanctions in four aspects: the impact of sanction on health indices, food security, medicines and
treatment, and air pollution. The results of macro analysis show that medicines and treatment, air
pollution and the environment are the most affected health area by sanctions. So, sanctions have
a negative effect on the health. To achieve sustainable development and increase the health level,
it is necessary for government to make efficient and timely decisions on the use of very scarce
resources after facing economic sanctions. To show a proper reaction, health impacts of sanctions
and their magnitudes should be realized carefully. Then, government must give priority to the
most affected area of health to reduce the reverse impacts of sanctions. Finally, it seems that
negotiations on nuclear energy can help Iran to remove many problems caused by sanctions.
Akbarpour-Roshan, N. & Abbasi, M. (2014). The Impact of the US Economic Sanctions on Health in Cuba .The Open Access Journal of Resistive Economics (OAJRE), 5(22).
Carter, B. E. (1988). International Economic Sanctions: Improving the Haphazard US legal Regime. Cambridge University Press.
Chuma, J, Mulupi, S, & McIntyre, D (2013). Providing Financial Protection and Funding Health Service Benefits for the Informal Sector: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa. RESYST Working Paper. Retrieved from: http://r4d.dfid.gov.uk/Output/193090
Executive order 12259,60 Fed. Reg. 24757, 2 May 1995.
Garfield, R. (1997). The Impact of Economic Embargoes on the Health of Women and Children. Journal of the American Medical Women’s Association, (52):4, 181–4.
Garfield, R. (1999). The Impact of Economic Sanctions on Health and Well-being. Relief and Rehabilitation Network (RRN). Retrieved from: www.oneworld.org/odi/rrn/index.html
Garfield, R. & Santana, S. (1997). The Impact of Economic Crisis and US Embargo on Health in Cuba. Mercian Journal of Public Health, 87(1), 15–20.
International Institute for Peace, Justice and Human Rights (2013). The Impact of Sanctions on Iranian People Healthcare. (Report 1.1).
Kandella, P.(1997). Effects of Sanctions on Iraq's Health Professionals. The Lancet, 349(9059), 1153.
Petrescu, I. M. (2010). The Humanitarian Impact of Economic Sanctions (Working Papers, American Enterprise Institute). Retrieved from:
http://www.essex.ac.uk/armedcon/story_id/The%20Humanitarian%20Impact%20of%20Ec onomic%20Sanctions.pdf
Proclamation no 9702, 44 fed. reg. 67.602
SDSN (2013). An Action Agenda for Sustainable Development. Report for the UN Secretary General. http://unsdsn.org/files/2013/11/An-Action-Agendafor-Sustainable-Development.pdf
SDSN (2014). Health in the Framework of Sustainable Development. Technical Report for the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Retrieved from:
http://unsdsn.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Health-For-All-Report.pdf
UN Security Council Distribution General, s/13616, 1979
UN Security Council Resolution 457, s/INF/35, 1979
Vakil, A. & Tahsili, Z. (2013). Iran and International Sanctions. Tehran: Majd Press.
WHO (2012). Health in the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Director General of WHO speech. Retrieved from: www.who.int/dg/speeches/2012/mdgs_post2015/en/index.html 73.
WHO (2010). Health Systems Financing the Path to Universal Coverage. The World Health Report. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/whr/2010/en 74.
WHO (2010). WHO Health Financing Strategy for Asia Pacific Region (2010-2015). The Report. World http://www.who.int/health_financing/documents/cov-wprosearo-strategy2010/en 75.
WHO (2008). Primary Health Care: Now More Than Ever. The World Health Report. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/whr/2008/en 76.
WHO (2004). Macroeconomics and Health: Investing in Health for Economic Development. The whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2001/924154550x.pdf 78. Health Report. Retrieved from:
WHO (2002). Health and Sustainable Development: Key Health Trends. The World Health Report. Retrieved from: www.who.int/mediacentre/events/HSD_Plaq_02.2_Gb_def1.pdf
A daily gasoline production of 60 million liters. (2013, 05 April). Asre Iran News analysis
website. Retrieved from: http://www.asriran.com/fa/news/328973