USCIRF Applauds Permanent Reauthorization of Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

USCIRF Applauds Permanent Reauthorization of Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

Washington, D.C. – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the permanent reauthorization of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which was signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden on April 8, 2022.

“Global Magnitsky sanctions are the gold standard for holding human rights abusers accountable. The Global Magnitsky Act is an important tool to impose consequences on violators of religious freedom that can now be used for years to come thanks to its permanent reauthorization,” USCIRF Chair Nadine Maenza said. “We applaud President Biden for signing the bill into law and the bipartisan support from Congress on this legislation.”

Through the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, the U.S. government can issue visa bans and asset freezes against foreign persons involved in “gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.” This tool has been used to enforce consequences on violators of religious freedom.

“The U.S. government has imposed Global Magnitsky sanctions on violators of religious freedom in contexts such as Burma, China, Iran, and Russia. Targeted sanctions are a vital instrument for the United States to promote accountability for violations of freedom of religion or belief abroad, and we believe they have made an impact in stemming religious persecution,” USCIRF Vice Chair Nury Turkel added. “With the Global Magnitsky sanctions authority now permanently reauthorized, we hope that the Biden administration will implement more targeted sanctions for severe religious freedom violations, which we repeatedly recommend each year.”

In its 2021 Annual Report, USCIRF called on the U.S. government to increase the use of human rights related financial and visa authorities to impose asset freezes and/or visa bans on individuals and entities for severe religious freedom violations, citing specific abuses, and to permanently reauthorize the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. In October 2021, USCIRF hosted a hearing titled: “Targeted Sanctions: Implications for International Religious Freedom.”

###

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].