By Sujeeva Nivunhella in London
The British government sounded a stern warning to, what it termed “human rights violators in the world” by announcing travel bans and freezing of assets of 11 Russian, Venezuelan, Gambian and Pakistani politicians and officials, on December 10, which marked International Human Rights Day.
Announcing the sanctions, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, “Today’s sanctions send a clear message to human rights violators that the UK will hold them to account.
“The UK and our allies are shining a light on the severe and systematic human rights violations perpetrated by those sanctioned today. Globally Britain will stand up for democracy, human rights and the rule of law as a force for good in the world.”
In the sanctions announced, the UK said it was placing travel bans and asset freezes on 10 politicians, officials and others responsible for gross human rights violations in Gambia, Pakistan, Russia and Venezuela.
The measures, introduced on Thursday – International Human Rights Day – are the third set of sanctions to be announced by the UK under its new independent human rights sanctions regime. The EU introduced its own regime of human rights sanctions this week.
Backbench MPs had this week pressed the Foreign Office minister Nigel Adams to impose sanctions on Chinese officials involved in arresting pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong. He said the issue was under consideration.