On 8 March last, by Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/501 of 7 March 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious violations and abuses of human rights. The European Union, in accordance with its general sanctions regime on human rights and respect for human dignity, included nine persons and three entities on the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures.
Among these persons, two Taliban ministers are at the top of the list. These ministers have been included for allegedly prohibiting women’s access to education and restricting their rights and freedoms.
Secondly, four Russian military personnel have been added to the list. Two of them for allegedly: “… detaining and subsequently torturing women anti-war protesters. The other two Russian servicemen have been listed for ordering their subordinates to commit acts of sexual and gender-based violence on Ukrainian soil.”[1] Two Russian servicemen have also been listed for allegedly: “… detaining, and subsequently torturing women anti-war protesters.
Two commissars from South Sudan have also been included in the list, because their troops are accused of committing widespread sexual violence in the south of the state.
In addition, Myanmar’s Office of the Chief of Military Security Affairs and its Deputy Minister of Home Affairs have been sanctioned for allegedly committing violations and using anti-human rights techniques when interrogating men, women and LGTBIQ+ members.
A prison in Iran and the Syrian Republican Guard are the latest entities to be included on the list. The prison, in the first place, because the inmates of the prison are allegedly subjected to sexual violence. Finally, the Syrian Republican Guard has been sanctioned for: “using sexual and gender-based violence to repress and intimidate the Syrian people, in particular women and girls.”[2]
[1] Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/501 of 7 March 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious violations and abuses of human rights.
[2] Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/501 of 7 March 2023 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious violations and abuses of human rights.
