Committee decision-making 2. 33 Exemptions to financial/travel sanctions6 UN sanctions, comprehensive or targeted, have always included exemptions for humanitarian purposes, with increased standardization and more consistent application taking place over time. In the case of travel bans, exemptions are routinely authorised for medical or religious reasons, to participate in a peace process, and for judicial processes. Such exemptions are provided for ordinary or extraordinary expenses, in the case of an asset freeze. Exemption procedures include approval by sanctions committees on a case-by-case basis or by notification to the committee, with approval assumed in the absence of a negative decision within a specified time period. Notwithstanding the long history of humanitarian exemptions, concern was expressed during HLR consultations regarding the extent to which individuals and entities subject to sanctions are aware of the availability of exemptions and the procedures for obtaining them. Simplified procedures for individuals or other actors with standing to directly request exemptions are lacking, and in most cases only governments can request exemptions. While sanctions committees have made greater efforts to inform sanctioned individuals/entities of the availability of exemptions, the requirement for individuals and entities to request exemptions through governments remains unduly limiting, and the inability of international tribunals to initiate exemption requests has already challenged the system. Many applications by Member States for exemptions on behalf of listed individuals relate to travel to, or funding legal representation for, judicial proceedings. One HLR submission raised the question of international courts and tribunals, such as the International Criminal Court, which were generally independent of the host State authorities. In such cases, it was suggested that it is practical for the sanctions committee to deal directly with the relevant court or tribunal for individuals in custody, or who were required to travel to the host State to attend proceedings. Similarly, any information requests regarding persons in detention could be addressed by the relevant court or tribunal directly, rather than through the host state. Relevant sanctions resolutions could include a specific provision facilitating travel of listed persons which related to the fulfilment of the mandate of an international court or tribunal, as was the case in the sanctions resolution regarding the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).7 6 7 See also section VII.D.2. Paragraph 10 of S/RES/2078 (2012).