In 1990, when Saddam Hussein sent Iraqi forces to occupy Kuwait, claiming that he was retaking lost territory, the UN Security Council voted, based on chapter seven of the UN charter, to punish Iraq by imposing a strict financial and trade embargo. Likewise, when apartheid South Africa refused to provide its black majority with their fundamental human rights, the international community supported a major campaign of divestment and sanctions.
1990年，萨达姆用伊拉克军队占领科威特。他声称这是收复故土，但联合国安理会根据联合国宪章第七章，投票通过以严厉的金融和贸易禁运惩罚伊拉克。类似地，当种族隔离的南非拒绝为其占多数的黑人提供基本人权时，国际社会也支持了轰轰烈烈的撤资和制裁运动。