Wilson: Canada must hold human rights abusers accountable under the Magnitsky Act
This legislation is unique in that it targets offenders personally, cutting off their access to funding, thereby weakening impunity and corruption networks. Yet Canada's use of it has been sparse.
Author of the article: Malliha Wilson
Publishing date: Dec 15, 2020 • December 16, 2020 • 4 minute read •
Protesters march to commemorate international human rights day on Dec. 10, 2020 in Manila, Philippines. Canada has a powerful legislative tool it can use against human rights offenders personally, but seems shy about employing it. Photo by Jes Aznar /Getty Images
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Last Thursday marked International Human Rights Day, two years since Canadian diplomats Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig were detained in China, and the day the EU’s new European “Magnitsky Act” came into effect. Yet looking at our own track record, Canadians should be deeply concerned that despite passing our own version of this Act more than three years ago, we are failing to hold human rights abusers to account.