Global Magnitsky and Targeted Sanctions

On-Going

Crisis

Past Work

What's Going On

A growing number of countries have targeted sanctions programs – like the U.S. government's Global Magnitsky program – that they can use to impose consequences like entry bans and asset freezes on corrupt and abusive individuals.

Where It's Happening

Human rights abuse and corruption occur in every region of the world

What We're Doing

Human Rights First coordinates and works with a coalition of more than 300 civil society organizations, explaining how targeted sanctions work and partnering with groups around the world to use sanctions as a tool to promote accountability.

Join the Work

Read our training and briefing materials about how targeted sanctions work and how governments have used them to promote accountability. Join our civil society coalition to help hold specific perpetrators accountable.

Global Magnitsky and Targeted Sanctions

Authoritarianism

TARGETED HUMAN RIGHTS AND ANTI-CORRUPTION SANCTIONS (GLOBAL MAGNITSKY)

Targeted sanctions like those authorized under the Global Magnitsky Act and similar programs can hold accountable the world’s worst human rights abusers and corrupt actors. Human Rights First works with…

Topics

Authoritarianism

Permanent Global Magnitsky Act Will Ensure Perpetrators Face Consequences

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following a yearlong advocacy campaign by Human Rights First and Freedom House, the organizations welcomed the permanent reauthorization of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, signed…

Press

Authoritarianism

From Magnitsky to the Mothers of Mariupol

Congress Must Stand with Victims and Strengthen the Global Magnitsky Act By Mike Breen and Mike Abramowitz In recent weeks, the world has once again been confronted with the horrifying reality of war…

Blog

Authoritarianism

Global Magnitsky: Using Sanctions in Cooperation with National Authorities

The U.S. government uses its Global Magnitsky targeted sanctions program in a primarily confrontational manner, i.e., to condemn and check abuses in countries where national authorities are taking limited or…

Letter

Authoritarianism

Human Rights First Welcomes Sanctions on Chinese Officials Responsible for Ethnic Cleansing of Uyghurs and Other Minority Groups in China

WASHINGTON — Human Rights First today welcomed announcements by the U.S. government that it had implemented targeted sanctions against four Chinese government officials and one Chinese government security agency for…

Press

Authoritarianism

POMED, Human Rights First, PEN America, Committee to Protect Journalists Respond to ODNI Report on the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi

WASHINGTON – The Project on Middle East Democracy, Human Rights First, PEN America, and the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following joint statement in response to the U.S. government…

Press

Authoritarianism

Human Rights First Welcomes State Dept. Country Reports on Human Rights Practices

WASHINGTON – Each year, the U.S. Department of State releases reports on the state of human rights in nations around the world, highlighting pressing concerns that the United States intends…

Press

Authoritarianism

Religious freedom-related sanctions not possible under the Global Magnitsky Act

Human Rights First and Freedom House produced a fact sheet to explain how Global Magnitsky sanctions have helped protect international religious freedom – because the Trump administration’s Executive Order expanded…

Fact Sheets

Authoritarianism

Global Magnitsky and Serious Human Rights Abuse

Human Rights First and Freedom House produced this fact sheet to explain how the “serious human rights abuse” standard has allowed the Global Magnitsky sanctions program to be an effective…

Fact Sheets

Authoritarianism

Q & A on Sanctions and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine

What are sanctions, and why are they being used or proposed in this crisis? The word “sanctions” broadly describes a range of coercive measures usually aimed at changing behavior, either…

Fact Sheets

Authoritarianism

Human Rights First’s Magnitsky Recommendations to the Australian Parliament

  Dear Members of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade: On behalf of Human Rights First, it is a privilege to write you on the question…

Letter