US to expand sanctions on human rights abusers across the world

The Global Human Rights Accountability Act has been introduced to the US Senate.

The bill would deny entry into the US, freeze assets and forbid to buy property in the US for foreign citizens responsible for extrajudicial killings, torture or other human rights violations.

The bill was prepared by members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee John McCain and Ben Cardin. The document expands the Magnitsky Act adopted in late 2012 and applies it globally. The text of the bill is published on Ben Cardin's website.

“The United States must maintain its global leadership in the fight against corruption and human rights abuses wherever they occur. This bipartisan bill gives us the tools to deter future abuses throughout the world, while also protecting our strategic financial infrastructure from those who would use it to launder or shelter ill-gotten gains. Gross violators of human rights from Zimbabwe to Ukraine, and Honduras to Papua New Guinea, are put on notice that they cannot escape the consequences of their actions even when their home country fails to act,” Ben Cardin said.

“Congress passed the Magnitsky Act in 2012 to place the United States firmly on the side of those struggling for human rights and the rule of law in Russia. This bipartisan legislation extends that effort, holding accountable those who commit gross violations of human rights across the world. Standing up for the rule of law and establishing clear consequences for abuses of fundamental human rights serves our nation’s interests and reflects of deepest values,” John McCain said.

The document proposes to make a list of persons subject to sanctions and to obliges the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to Congress regarding actions taken pursuant to the amendment.