Brussels 20 October 2020
No Peace Without Justice welcomes the “Joint Proposal for a Council Regulation concerning implementation of restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide” presented on Monday 19 October by the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
The so-called “EU Magnitsky Act”, named after the American law aimed at punishing those responsible for the death of Russian lawyer Serguei Magnitsky, aims to establish a specific sanctions regime on a global level, allowing the EU to impose sanctions such as asset freezes and travel ban on individuals responsible for grave human rights violations worldwide, as well as ensure the oversight of their enforcement.
NPWJ believes that such instrument could contribute to strengthen the EU’s role as a global actor in the protection and promotion of human rights, democracy, the rule of law and international justice. Providing the EU Foreign Policy with a common and coherent mechanism also means the possibility to be more proactive in fighting against impunity for atrocities and abuses wherever committed in the world and whoever is responsible for them.
So far, the application of sanctioning regimes at European level has been applied too randomly and too cautiously. Therefore NPWJ looks forward to the Council to quickly endorse the European Commission’s proposal and ensure that its provisions make it a real, consistent and efficient tool for action.
For further information, contact Nicola Giovannini, Press & Public Affairs Coordinator, on ngiovannini@npwj.org.
