Taliban, Russian police and Burmese officials among those targeted for Women’s Day sanctions
The European Union (‘EU’) and United Kingdom have marked International Women’s Day with sanctions on people and entities responsible for rights abuses against women.
The EU said it was imposing sanctions on nine people and entities in Afghanistan, Russia, South Sudan, Syria and Iran for committing serious human rights violations, particularly against women, including: ‘
- Two acting Taliban ministers for Higher Education and for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, who are behind the decrees banning women from higher education and gender-segregated practices in public spaces.
- Officers of the Moscow Police Station responsible for arbitrary arrests and detentions as well as torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in the context of the censorship and oppression led by the Russian authorities.
- Government officials commanding South Sudanese militias responsible for the widespread and systematic use of sexual and gender-based violence as a war tactic.
- The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in Myanmar/Burma.
- The Qarchak Prison in Iran, the Syrian Republican Guard and the Office of the Chief of Military Security Affairs in Myanmar/Burma are sanctioned in view of their roles in serious sexual and gender-based human rights violations.’
Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, said: ‘No matter where it happens, we will combat and eliminate all forms of violence against women. With today’s decision, we are enhancing efforts to counter sexual and gender-based violence, to ensure that those responsible are fully accountable for their actions, and to combat impunity.’
The UK, meanwhile, announced sanctions on three individuals in South Sudan, Syria, the Central African Republic and an entity in Iran.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-announces-sanctions-against-global-violators-of-womens-rights
