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ARTICLE · 10 DECEMBER 2020

EU Adopts Framework For Imposing Magnitsky-Like Sanctions Against Human Rights Violations

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On December 7, 2020, the Council of the European Union adopted the framework establishing the global human rights sanctions regime.

European UnionGovernment, Public Sector
Nikolay Mizulin
Nikolay Mizulin
Paulette Vander Schueren
Paulette Vander Schueren
Edouard Gergondet
Edouard Gergondet
Dylan Geraets
Dylan Geraets
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On December 7, 2020, the Council of the European Union adopted the framework establishing the global human rights sanctions regime.1 This framework provides for the possibility to impose travel ban and asset freeze measures against individuals, entities and bodies responsible for, involved in or associated with serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide, no matter where they occurred.

The framework targets serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide defined as covering genocides, crimes against humanity, other serious human rights violations or abuses (e.g., torture, slavery, arbitrary executions, arbitrary detentions, etc.) and violations of customary internationals and widely accepted instruments of international law. Sanctions can be imposed on both state and non-state actors, regardless of their location.

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