Report to Congress Pursuant to the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act

The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (PL 114-328, Subtitle F) (the “Act”), enacted on December 23, 2016, authorizes the President to impose financial sanctions and visa restrictions on foreign persons in response to certain human rights violations and acts of corruption.

The President submits this report to detail (1) United States Government actions to administer the Act and (2) efforts to encourage the governments of other countries to impose sanctions similar to those authorized by Section 1263 of the Act.

With the passage of the Act, the United States now has a specific authority to identify and hold accountable persons responsible for gross violations of human rights and acts of significant corruption. The global reach of this authority, combined with a judicious selection of individuals and entities, sends a powerful signal of the Administration’s commitment to these goals. By complementing current sanctions programs and diplomatic outreach, the Act creates an additional authority to allow the Administration to respond to crises and pursue accountability, including where country-specific sanctions programs may not exist or where the declaration of a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act may not be appropriate. With the establishment of the first dedicated global human rights and corruption sanctions program, the United States is uniquely positioned to lead the international community in pursuing accountability abroad consistent with our values.