Britain Imposes Human Rights Sanctions on Offenders in Belarus, Iran, Syria, and Others

The government of the United Kingdom has implemented new sanctions against a range of individuals and entities worldwide responsible for human rights violations. This action coincides with the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948, as announced on the official portal of the British government.

In addition to the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada have also imposed their own sets of sanctions. The UK government's sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans and apply to 46 individuals and entities, divided into two parts.

The first part targets nine individuals and five entities involved in human trafficking in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. These individuals coerce people into working in fraudulent online schemes, promising well-paying jobs but subjecting victims to torture or other forms of cruelty and forcing them into fraudulent activities. According to UN estimates, at least 120,000 people in Myanmar alone are compelled to work under such schemes, including several British citizens.

The second part of the sanctions targets individuals associated with the governments, judicial bodies, and prosecution authorities of Belarus, Haiti, Iran, and Syria. These sanctions are imposed due to their involvement in repression against citizens solely for seeking to uphold their fundamental freedoms in these countries. Among those subject to British restrictive measures are 17 representatives of the Belarusian judicial system, including judges, prosecutors, and investigators involved in politically motivated cases against activists, independent journalists, and human rights defenders.

"We will not tolerate criminals and repressive regimes trampling on the fundamental rights and freedoms of ordinary people worldwide. I am acutely aware that 75 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Kingdom and our allies will continue relentlessly pursuing those who deny people their freedom," stated UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

It's worth noting that a few days ago, the United Kingdom also imposed sanctions on 46 individuals and companies for assisting Russia in conducting an aggressive war against Ukraine. The list includes Russian defense companies and private individuals, as well as companies from Belarus, China, Serbia, Turkey, the UAE, and Uzbekistan.