The International Sanctions Delisting Commission (“ISDC”) seeks to maintain accurate, traceable and appropriately sourced public records.
This Corrections Policy explains how ISDC identifies, assesses and corrects factual errors, material omissions, attribution problems and other issues in published content.
Purpose of This Policy
ISDC publishes sanctions review cases, institutional documents, research, commentary and other public materials that may rely on official records, documentary evidence, third-party sources and independent analysis.
Because factual circumstances, legal records and sanctions-related information may change over time, maintaining an accurate public record requires a clear process for correction and clarification.
What ISDC May Correct
Corrections may be made where published material contains or may contain:
- an inaccurate factual statement;
- an incorrect date, name, title or institutional reference;
- a material transcription or formatting error;
- an incorrect or incomplete source attribution;
- a broken or misleading reference to supporting material;
- a material omission affecting the meaning of a published statement;
- language that does not accurately reflect the underlying source or finding.
Corrections, Clarifications and Updates
Not every change to published material is treated in the same way.
| Type | When It May Be Used | Typical Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Correction | Where published content contains a factual or material error | The affected content may be amended and, where appropriate, the correction may be noted |
| Clarification | Where content is technically accurate but could reasonably be misunderstood | Additional explanatory language may be added |
| Update | Where new events, official decisions or later evidence change the factual position | The record may be supplemented without treating the earlier publication as erroneous |
| Editorial Amendment | Where spelling, grammar, formatting or presentation requires improvement | Minor changes may be made without a formal correction notice |
Material and Non-Material Errors
Material Errors
An error may be considered material where it could reasonably affect the interpretation of a case, the understanding of evidence, the characterization of a person or entity, or the substance of an ISDC finding.
Material errors receive priority for assessment and correction.
Minor Errors
Typographical mistakes, punctuation issues, broken formatting and other non-substantive errors may be corrected without a separate public notice where the meaning of the publication is unchanged.
Corrections to Sanctions Review Cases
Published case records may include factual summaries, evidence references, legal analysis and an ISDC assessment.
Where an error is identified in a case record, ISDC may correct the relevant section while preserving the distinction between:
- official designation information;
- source material and evidence;
- third-party submissions;
- ISDC analysis;
- ISDC recommendations or findings.
A correction to one category of information does not automatically imply that all other parts of the case record are affected.
Subsequent Developments Are Not Necessarily Corrections
A later change in circumstances does not necessarily mean that an earlier publication was inaccurate when originally issued.
Sanctions cases may evolve following court decisions, regulatory action, corporate changes, new evidence, official amendments or changes in sanctions status.
Where the original publication was accurate at the time, ISDC may add an update or subsequent development rather than issue a correction.
Source Corrections
Where ISDC has accurately summarized a source that is later corrected, withdrawn or amended by the originating institution, ISDC may update its reference to reflect the revised source.
ISDC may also preserve reference to the earlier version where necessary to understand the historical record or the basis on which an earlier assessment was made.
Requests for Correction
Individuals, organizations, authorities, researchers or other interested persons may bring a potential error to the attention of ISDC.
A correction request should, where possible, identify:
- the publication or case concerned;
- the specific statement believed to be inaccurate;
- the proposed correction or clarification;
- the factual basis for the request;
- relevant supporting documents or source references.
How Correction Requests Are Assessed
Receipt of a correction request does not mean that the requested change will automatically be made.
ISDC may review the underlying source material, compare competing evidence, seek clarification and assess whether the disputed statement is factual, analytical or interpretive in nature.
Where appropriate, ISDC may also distinguish between disagreement with an analytical conclusion and a demonstrable factual error.
Disagreement With an ISDC Assessment
A disagreement with an ISDC finding, interpretation or recommendation is not by itself a correction issue.
Where the underlying facts are accurately stated but a person disagrees with the analytical conclusion drawn from them, ISDC may maintain the published assessment while considering any new evidence or argument submitted.
Correction Notices
Where a material correction is made, ISDC may include a note explaining that the publication has been amended.
Depending on the circumstances, such a notice may identify:
- what information was changed;
- the reason for the correction;
- whether the change affects any substantive finding;
- whether the change reflects new evidence or correction of an earlier error.
Preserving the Public Record
ISDC seeks to avoid silently rewriting the historical record where a material correction would affect the interpretation of an earlier publication.
In appropriate cases, earlier versions, correction notes or archival records may be retained so that the development of the public record remains understandable.
Corrections Affecting Recommendations
If corrected information materially affects the basis of an ISDC recommendation or conclusion, ISDC may reconsider the relevant assessment.
This may result in an amended finding, a revised recommendation, further review or publication of an explanatory update.
Removal of Published Material
Full removal of published material is generally different from correction.
ISDC may consider removal or restricted access where continued publication is unlawful, materially misleading, unsafe, improperly disclosed or otherwise inconsistent with applicable institutional obligations.
Where a less restrictive correction, clarification or redaction is sufficient, ISDC may prefer that approach in order to preserve the integrity of the public record.
Submitting a Correction Request
Potential errors may be reported through the official ISDC contact page. Requests should include sufficient information to allow the issue to be identified and assessed.
Urgent concerns involving serious factual inaccuracies, improper disclosure or significant potential harm should be clearly identified when submitted.
Policy Principle
The purpose of a correction is not to erase disagreement. It is to preserve an accurate, transparent and reviewable public record.