U.S. pledges "tough sanctions" against human rights abusers, kleptocrats Globally

Washington/27.02.19/Turan: Aimed to counter human rights abuses and corruption across the globe, the U.S. government is seeking to leverage "tough sanctions" to change the behavior of malign actors all over the world, top U.S. Treasury Department official said on Tuesday, TURAN's US correspondent reports.

"We have a broader range of tools to fight against human rights abuses... We are sending strong and impactful messages that there are dire financial consequences to their actions, and that their access to the U.S. financial system will be cut off, and their assets will be frozen if they don't change their behaviors. and we are pressing other governments to do the same," Andrea Gacki, director of the department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), said at Atlantic Council in Washington.

OFAC sanctions programs, she said, are used to "punish corrupt political leaders and their families who embezzle their countries wealth, lining their own pockets at the expense of their own citizens."

"Sanctions not only target individuals but also their networks and enablers, ensuring there's a steep price to pay for human rights abusers or corrupt activities."

Under the Global Magnitsky Act, the U.S. had made it difficult for corrupt actors to operate abroad. Approximately half of OFAC sanctions programs include human rights criteria, Gacki reminded.

In the meantime, she added, multilateral sanctions are always stronger than unilateral ones.

In his speech, Gerald Regan, first secretary of the British Embassy to the U.S., agreed that sanctions have more impact than just economic; reputational and political impact should not be overlooked". -0-