“The reauthorization, included within a bill to suspend normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, makes permanent a landmark piece of legislation used to target gross violators of internationally recognized human rights. The act has been a vital tool in advancing religious freedom worldwide. Now that the president has signed it, it should be vigorously enforced, including in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Since the passage of the Global Magnitsky Act in 2016, targeted financial and immigration sanctions have been increasingly used for the protection of human rights and in the fight against corruption. Targeted sanctions have the benefit of holding the worst human rights violators accountable for their actions while not being as broad or blunt as country-wide sanctions. Targeted sanctions tell violators they are no longer welcome to do business with the United States. Countries around the world are seeing the benefit of these sanctions. Global Magnitsky Acts have been adopted in Canada, the U.K., the EU and most recently Australia, among others,” writes Sean Nelson, Legal Counsel for ADF International.

Read the full article in Newsweek.