(Xinhua) - The Venezuelan Foreign Minister said on Tuesday during the 52nd regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council that the US sanctions have cost Venezuela about 232 billion US dollars in losses.

Secretary of State Evan Gill said the sanctions, also known as unilateral coercive measures, imposed by the United States are a "crime against humanity" and were denounced by Venezuelan authorities three years ago at the International Criminal Court.

"My country has been the target of 927 unilateral coercive measures and other criminal, illegal, direct and indirect rulings," he added at the hearing in Geneva, Switzerland.

Gill stated that the sanctions aim to "impose regime change in flagrant violation of international law," noting that they have not succeeded.

And he added that the "dominant countries" use sanctions as "political and economic weapons" against countries and destinations that do not share their "expansionist goals."

He also condemned the "politicization and double standards" applied to human rights issues.

Gil said Venezuela would continue to promote human rights "while respecting the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of states."