President Trump announced new sanctions that make it more difficult for human rights violators and corrupt officials from around the world to travel to the United States and use their money in the country. This new measure, adopted in December 2017, demonstrates the U.S. commitment to promoting human rights and combating corruption.
The announcement expands the range of human rights violators and corrupt individuals who can be publicly named and shamed.
These are the first sanctions issued related to the 2016 Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. The president’s announcement to implement this law prevents individuals and entities from using the U.S. financial system or engaging in business with American citizens. It also allows for the denial or revocation of visas for those deemed responsible for serious human rights violations or corruption.
The 2016 Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act is different from a 2012 law called the Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act, which targets Russians involved in the Sergei Magnitsky case. Magnitsky, a Russian lawyer, was arrested after uncovering a large-scale tax fraud scheme involving government officials. The Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act prohibits the entry into the U.S. of Russian officials involved in fraud and those responsible for the abuse and death of Magnitsky. It also targets those who have committed other specific serious human rights violations in Russia.
Source: share.america.gov