UN Special Notice
How do the decisions made in the UN Security Council chamber in New York turn into concrete actions at borders, in banks, and courts around the world? This is facilitated by the UN Special Notice, one of the most powerful tools of international control. Being included in such a notice means the automatic application of sanctions: asset freezes, travel bans, business restrictions.
Our legal company helps clients not only understand the consequences but also effectively protect their interests: from legal analysis of the grounds for notice to filing a motion for its review. We will conduct a check through international databases, prepare a defense strategy, contact relevant structures, and, if necessary, initiate the appeal process.
What is a Special Notice of UN-Interpol?
UN Security Council Special Notice is a unique mechanism created to ensure the effective implementation of international sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council. Its purpose is to promptly deliver information about sanctioned individuals and organizations to the national law enforcement, border, and financial authorities of all INTERPOL member states.
Such a notice is not initiated in the usual manner, like other Interpol notices. It is published by the General Secretariat based on the UN Security Council’s approved sanctions lists and may include both individuals and companies, vessels, aircraft associated with terrorism, weapons proliferation, or other enterprises posing international threats.
Special notices are primarily intended for use by national law enforcement agencies, border services and immigration authorities, banks and financial institutions, customs services, export control services, and other state agencies involved in sanction policy.
Each notice includes important information: identification data of the person or company, grounds for inclusion in the list, type of sanctions applied, and a link to the corresponding UN resolution.
The mechanism for creating and distributing a Special notice
A special UN notice is used to inform national law enforcement agencies, border services, and financial institutions about individuals and organizations that have been sanctioned by the UN Security Council. The process of creating and distributing such a notice can conditionally be divided into two key stages.
Step 1: Decision of the UN Security Council
The decision to include an individual or organization in the sanctions list is made by the sanctions committees of the UN Security Council, established based on resolutions. One of the most active and well-known is Committee 1267, responsible for sanctions against ISIS (DAESH), Al-Qaeda, and organizations associated with them.
A proposal to include in the sanctions list may be submitted by a UN member state, usually based on intelligence or investigative information. The committee reviews the application: members of the sanctions committee examine the dossier, including evidence related to the involvement of an individual or organization in prohibited activities.
If there are no objections from the permanent members (the right of veto is not applied in committees), the individual or organization is added to the UN sanctions list. Along with this, a brief narrative summary explaining the reasons for inclusion is published, and sanctions are imposed: asset freeze, travel ban, arms embargo. This decision becomes mandatory for all UN member states and is subject to immediate implementation.
Step 2: Interpol Actions
After the UN sanctions committee makes a decision, the UN transmits the data to the General Secretariat of Interpol for the creation and dissemination of the corresponding notice. The notice includes:
- Identification data (name, date of birth, photographs, citizenship)
- Grounds for the application of sanctions
- Link to the UN Security Council resolution
- The nature and type of sanctions
After preparation, the document is distributed through the secure I-24/7 system — a specialized communication network of Interpol, connecting law enforcement agencies of all 196 member countries of the organization. In each country, the notice is received by the National Central Bureau of Interpol, which forwards it to the relevant authorities: police, migration service, financial supervision, etc.
What information is contained in the notice?
A special UN notice contains standardized data necessary for the identification of entities and the practical implementation of restrictive measures. The information in such notices is structured and as specific as possible to eliminate errors and delays in law enforcement.
The main elements included in the notice:
- Full Name: full name as stated in official documents;
- Pseudonyms: any known nicknames and other forms of name writing;
- Date and place of birth: data contributing to accurate identification;
- Photograph (if available): an important visual element for border guards and law enforcement officers;
- Identification data: passport number, ID card, citizenship, gender, other personal data;
- Description of the basis for listing: a brief summary of violations or suspected activity;
- Type of sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council: asset freeze, travel ban, arms embargo;
- Link to the UN resolution on the basis of which the notice was issued;
- Contact details of national contact points responsible for the implementation of sanctions.
This information allows all participating states to quickly and accurately determine what measures should be taken as soon as an individual or organization falls within their jurisdiction. It is important to understand that the notice is not an arrest warrant, but its legal significance is quite serious in the context of the international sanctions regime.
Legal Consequences of a Special UN notice
The essence of such a notice lies in the translation of UN sanctions to the level of national implementation. It is a legal mechanism through which international resolutions become the subject of actions by state bodies: police, border guards, customs, banks, and other authorized structures.
After receiving the notice, each member country of Interpol is obligated to take measures corresponding to the content of the sanction decision:
- Border control: a person included in the sanctions list may be denied crossing the border if a travel ban is in effect;
- Financial sanctions: banking institutions are required to freeze the assets of the subject of the notice, both personal and corporate accounts;
- Export-import restrictions: customs authorities are obliged to block the supply of goods subject to an embargo, including weapons, dual-use equipment, and technologies;
- Refusal to provide services: airlines, logistics operators, and other entities may refuse service.
Thus, the legal consequences of the Special Notice are not connected with criminal prosecution but directly affect freedom of movement, access to finances, and the ability to conduct international activities. These measures are applied automatically, without the need for additional national procedures, as UN member states are obligated to implement Security Council resolutions by virtue of Article 25 of the UN Charter.
In the case of unjustified inclusion in the sanctions list, a person may submit an application to the UN Sanctions Committee requesting removal. However, without legal support, such a process can be challenging, especially when it comes to complex accusations or politically sensitive issues.
Special notice vs Red notice
A Special Notice of the UN-Interpol and a Red Notice serve different functions in the international legal system. A Red Notice is a request for arrest with the purpose of extradition, issued by a country where an individual is suspected or convicted of a crime. It is used as a tool for criminal prosecution. In contrast, a Special Notice is initiated not by a state but by the UN Security Council through sanctions committees and is aimed at implementing international sanctions (asset freezing, travel bans, and embargoes).
The main difference lies in the legal consequences. A Red Notice can lead to detention and the initiation of extradition proceedings, whereas a Special Notice does not involve arrest but obliges countries to take restrictive measures within the framework of the sanctions regime. Moreover, a Red Notice is issued by an individual state, while a Special Notice comes from the UN and is mandatorily distributed through Interpol to all member countries.
Can notices overlap?
Yes, such situations are possible and often occur in practice. A special UN-Interpol notice is issued regarding individuals or organizations under international sanctions by the UN Security Council. For example, for financing terrorism, supplying weapons, or participating in prohibited structures. At the same time, a Red Notice may be issued by one of the countries against the same individual if they are also accused of committing a specific crime at the national level.
Thus, one person can simultaneously appear in two different notices: through the UN — as a subject of sanctions, and through Interpol — as a person subject to arrest for extradition. In such cases, the legal assessment of the situation becomes particularly important: it is necessary to consider the sources of each notice, their legal force, and possible means of defense.
Need help with Interpol questions?
If you or your loved ones have encountered an Interpol notice, it is extremely important to act quickly, professionally, and legally competently. Our team of international lawyers has extensive experience in cases related to Interpol notices, including appealing notices, removing records from databases, interacting with NCBs (National Central Bureaus), and representing the client’s interests in international structures. We thoroughly analyze the legal grounds of the notice, develop a defense strategy, and support the client at all stages: from submitting a request to the final decision.
Working with Interpol notices requires a deep understanding of international law, the procedural rules of the General Secretariat, and UN sanction mechanisms. We also collaborate with specialized lawyers in various countries, which allows us to act promptly and effectively. Our lawyers ensure maximum protection of the client’s interests, maintaining confidentiality and a professional approach in the most complex cases.
Do not postpone solving the problem – contact us right now to receive a personalized consultation and assessment of your situation. We will help protect your reputation, freedom of movement, and financial security.
