Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has announced a new package of sanctions aimed at human rights violators, particularly those who target women and girls.
The tough sanctions were announced on International Women’s Day, and they target gender-based violence in Iran, Syria, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.
The package includes four individuals and one entity involved in grievous activities, including military figures who have overseen rape and other forms of gender-based violence in conflicts.
It also sanctions government institutions in Iran responsible for enforcing mandatory dress codes for women in Iran with unreasonable force.
The sanctions were announced following the launch of a new Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Women and Girls Strategy, which sets out plans to tackle gender inequality across the globe.
The Foreign Secretary is currently on a visit to Sierra Leone, where he is meeting women MPs instrumental in passing landmark reforms to support gender equality and women’s empowerment.
He is launching the FCDO’s first Women and Girls Strategy, which places the rights of women and girls at the heart of everything the department does.
The strategy aims to tackle increasing threats to gender equality, from conflict to humanitarian crises to climate change.
The individuals sanctioned today are subject to an asset freeze and travel ban.
The entity is subject to an asset freeze. An asset freeze prevents any UK citizen or any business in the UK from dealing with any funds or economic resources owned, held, or controlled by the designated person.
A travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom.
The International Criminal Court’s Trust Fund provides victims with financial reparations as well as help with their physical and psychological rehabilitation.
It also helps provide access to education and with finding paid work.
Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence, is in New York meeting members of a new international alliance set up by the UK to drive action on preventing sexual violence in conflict, which is convening for the first time today.
He will announce that the UK is committing a further £430,000 to the International Criminal Court’s Trust Fund for Victims.
The FCDO’s Women and Girls Strategy can be viewed on their website.
Anyone with information about the individuals targeted by the sanctions is urged to contact the police.
The FCDO Communication Team can be contacted via email or telephone.
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