UK imposes sanctions against human rights violators

The United Kingdom Thursday announced a third tranche of sanctions under its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against 11 individuals and one entity from Russia, Venezuela, the Gambia and Pakistan for egregious human rights violations, said a press release of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). 

These sanctions, announced on International Human Rights Day, are a part of the UK's global human rights regime which empowers the country to stop those involved in serious human rights abuses and violations from entering the country, channelling money through UK banks, or profiting from UK economy.

This is the third time the UK has sanctioned people or entities for human rights violations and abuses under a UK-only regime, with the first in July and the second in September this year, said the FCDO media release.

It added that this is also the second time the UK has worked alongside its allies to announce sanctions, with the US set to announce its own measures. In total, the US and the UK designated 31 actors for their involvement in serious human rights abuses.

In Russia, the UK is imposing sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, against three individuals and the Terek Special Rapid Response Unit responsible for torture and other human rights violations against LGBT people in Chechnya

In Venezuela, sanctions will be imposed on senior security figures responsible for human rights violations in Maduro's illegitimate regime. These designations are a timely reminder of the crisis in Venezuela, coming as they do so soon after the illegitimate Maduro regime organised deeply flawed National Assembly elections on 6 December

YahyaJammeh, former resident of the Gambia, and Ahmad Anwar Khan, former senior superintendent of police in Malir district, Pakistan are also facing sanctions for historic human rights violations including extrajudicial killings of protestors and minority groups

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, "Today's sanctions send a clear message to human rights violators that the UK will hold them to account.

The UK and our allies are shining a light on the severe and systematic human rights violations perpetrated by those sanctioned today. Global Britain will stand up for democracy, human rights and the rule of law as a force for good in the world."