I. Relevant Security Council resolutions and Committee Guidelines
The exemptions to the travel ban are provided for by the following:
- Security Council Resolution 1844 (2008): paragraph 2
- Committee Guidelines: Section 12
II. What types of travel ban exemptions exist?
Exemptions can be requested:
- on the grounds of humanitarian need, including religious obligation;
- to further the objectives of peace and stability in the region;
- to further the objectives of peace and national reconciliation in Somalia.
III. Who is entitled to submit the request for exemptions from the travel ban?
The State(s) of destination, the State(s) of transit, the State of nationality, and the State of residence may submit a request through their Permanent Mission to the United Nations. If no effective central government exists in the country in which the listed individual is located, a United Nations office or agency in that country may submit the request for exemption on the listed individual’s behalf.
IV. What should be included in the request for exemption from the travel ban?
Each request for exemption should include the following information:
- the full name, nationality, passport number or travel document number of the listed individual;
- the purpose of and justification for the proposed travel, with copies of supporting documents, including specific details of meetings or appointments;
- the proposed dates and times of departure and return;
- the complete itinerary and timetable, including for all transit stops;
- details of the mode of transport to be used, including where applicable, record locator, flight numbers and names of vessels;
Each travel ban exemption request shall be received by the Committee Chair as early as possible but not less than fifteen working days before the date of the proposed travel, except where humanitarian consideration requires a shorter period.
V. How to make requests for exemptions from the travel ban?
Please send the requests for exemptions from the travel bans to:
- The Chair of the Committee, His Excellency Mr. Kazuyuki Yamazaki, through the Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations
With copies to:
- The Senior Committee Secretary, Ms. Sana Khan, Email address: SC-2713-Committee@un.org
VI. Decision Making of the Committee
Once the Committee has approved a request for exemption from the travel ban, the Secretariat will notify in writing the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of the State in which the listed individual is resident, the State of nationality, the State(s) to which the listed individual will be traveling, and any transit State, as well as any United Nations office/agency involved, to inform them of the approved travel, itinerary and timetable.
VII. Request for an extension of the exemption from the travel ban
Any request for an extension of the exemption is subject to the procedures set out above and need to be received by the Chair in writing, with a revised itinerary, no less than five working days before the expiry of the approved exemption.
VIII. Changes to the approved exemption from the travel plan
Any changes to the information provided in the request, including with regard to points of transit, require further consideration by the Committee and need to be received by the Chair no less than three working days prior to the commencement of the travel.
The submitting State (or United Nations office/agency) will inform the Chair immediately and in writing of any change to the departure date for any travel for which the Committee has already issued an exemption.
Written notification will be sufficient in cases where the time of departure is advanced or postponed no more than 48 hours and the itinerary remains otherwise unchanged. If travel is to be advanced or postponed by more than 48 hours, or the itinerary is changed, then a new exemption request needs to be submitted.
In cases of emergency evacuation to the nearest appropriate State, including for medical or humanitarian needs or through force majeure, the Committee will determine whether the travel is justified within the provisions of paragraph 2(a) of resolution 1844 (2008), within 24 hours once notified of the name of the listed individual traveler, the reason for travel, the date and time of evacuation, along with transportation details, including transit points and destination. The notifying authority also needs to provide, as soon as possible, a doctor’s or other relevant national official’s note containing as many details as possible of the nature of the emergency and the facility where treatment or other necessary assistance was received by the listed individual without prejudice to respect of medical confidentiality, as well as information regarding the date, time, and mode of travel by which the listed individual returned to his/her country of residence or nationality, and complete details on all expenses in connection with the emergency evacuation.
IX. After the travel
Written confirmation of the completion of the travel by the listed individual needs to be provided to the Chair within five working days following the expiry of the exemption by the State (or United Nations office/agency) in which the listed individual has stated he will be resident after completion of the exempted travel.