UK Expands Human Rights Sanctions Regime to Include War Crimes
The United Kingdom has significantly broadened its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, enabling the government to impose targeted sanctions on individuals and entities involved in war crimes. This expansion, approved by parliament yesterday, marks a notable shift from the previous framework established in 2020. Previously, sanctions were limited to serious human rights violations such as those concerning the right to life, freedom from torture, and freedom from slavery and forced labor. The updated rules now permit the targeting of those responsible for serious violations of international humanitarian law, obstruction of humanitarian assistance, and infringements on the right to liberty and security of person. Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband announced this change in September, initially in the context of addressing Israel’s unlawful settlement expansion in the West Bank, but the powers are applicable to war crimes globally. Human Rights Watch has consistently advocated for such measures, documenting intern...
