The book investigates how sanctions imposed by the UN, EU, AU, ECOWAS, OAS, and LAS intersect with humanitarian and human rights obligations. It examines legal obligations to provide for exceptions, mapping their evolution and distinguishing between exemptions and derogations. Rich case studies, from Iraq in the 1990s to recent measures against Niger and Russia, illustrate the tension between sanctions’ political aims and their human cost. By delving into both the progress and the persistent gaps in sanctions regimes, this book advances the scholarly debate on international sanctions, offering fresh insights for scholars and practitioners alike.