Australia Urged to Impose Sanctions Using Magnitsky Act on Countries That Abduct Citizens
Speaking to a parliamentary inquiry, the founder of the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign emphasized the need for Australia to utilize the Magnitsky Act in sanctioning foreign officials involved in holding Australians as political hostages.
William Browder pointed out the prevalence of state hostage-taking in countries like Iran and China, where individuals are effectively kidnapped using law enforcement tactics.
He suggested that individuals responsible for state hostage-taking, including judges and jailers, should be subject to Magnitsky sanctions.
Understanding the Magnitsky Act
The Magnitsky Act, named after Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, enables countries to impose sanctions on entities and individuals engaged in human rights abuses. This law was first enacted by the United States in 2012 and has since been adopted by 35 Western nations, including Australia in 2021.
Complimenting Australia’s use of the Magnitsky Act against cybercriminals, Browder noted that it has set a positive example for other countries to follow suit.
Highlighting a key concern, Browder mentioned the need for collaboration among countries with national Magnitsky Acts to prevent loopholes that might allow sanctioned individuals to evade consequences in certain jurisdictions.
A Call for International Cooperation
Browder urged Australia to work closely with allies, like the Five Eyes countries, to align their sanctions efforts and address challenges posed by inconsistent application of Magnitsky Act sanctions globally.
He expressed optimism that lawmakers are interested in pursuing this collaborative approach to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Magnitsky Act sanctions.
