UK to independently impose sanctions for the first time

Later, Britain will independently impose sanctions for the first time on dozens of people accused of human rights abuses around the world.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will launch the government’s new post-Brexit sanctions regime by naming the first violators to freeze its assets.

In the past, Britain has almost always imposed sanctions collectively as a member of the United Nations or the European Union.

But after Brexit you can act alone.

Later, Raab will present the final legislation necessary to activate the UK’s new autonomous sanctions regime.

It will target individuals or organizations accused of human rights violations worldwide, as well as those who financially benefit from those abuses.

• What are sanctions and why do countries use them?

The Foreign Secretary will appoint several dozen people whose assets in the UK will be frozen and who will also be barred from entering the country.

The first list is expected to include people from Russia, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea, but not China yet.

It comes amid tensions between the UK and China after the Chinese government introduced a new security law in Hong Kong, which Boris Johnson said violated the freedoms of the former UK colony.

BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said the new sanctions regime had “been slow in coming, but forms a central plank of the government’s foreign policy ambition to make Britain a global defender of international norms and standards. human rights”.

The Foreign Ministry said it will be the first time that the UK has imposed sanctions for human rights violations and abuses under an exclusive UK regime.

A department spokesman said the new regime will allow the United Kingdom “to work independently with allies such as the United States, Canada, Australia and the European Union.”

“The regime’s future targets may include those who commit illegal killings of journalists and media workers, or activities motivated by religion or belief,” they said.

Mr Raab said: “Starting today, the UK will have new powers to prevent those involved in serious human rights abuses and violations from entering the UK, channeling money through our banks and taking advantage of our economy.”

“We will not allow those seeking to inflict pain and destroy the lives of innocent victims to benefit from what the UK has to offer.”