EU adopts global human rights sanctions regime

By Busra Nur Bilgic Cakmak

ANKARA (AA) - The European Union on Monday adopted a new global sanctions regime for use against human rights violations, according to a statement by the bloc.

“For the first time, the EU is equipping itself with a framework that will allow it to target individuals, entities and bodies – including state and non-state actors – responsible for, involved in or associated with serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide, no matter where they occurred,” the statement said.

“Such restrictive measures will provide for a travel ban applying to individuals, and the freezing of funds applying to both individuals and entities. In addition, persons and entities in the EU will be forbidden from making funds available to those listed, either directly or indirectly,” it added.

The measures will be applied to human rights violations such as genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, slavery, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests or detentions.