UHRP Welcomes Secondary Sanctions Bill for Those Doing Business with Genocide Perpetrators
August 3, 2022 | 5:00 p.m. EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact: Omer Kanat +1 (202) 819-0598, Peter Irwin +1 (646) 906-7722
The Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) welcomes the introduction of the Sanctioning Supporters of Slave Labor Act in the US Senate and supports its passage.
“No one should be able to profit from doing business with the perpetrators of atrocities against Uyghurs,” said UHRP Executive Director Omer Kanat. “We need to close these loopholes.”
The bill would expand the scope of current sanctions, to impose secondary sanctions on foreign individuals and companies conducting business with or providing material support for any foreign officials and entities who are under Global Magnitsky human rights sanctions.
UHRP thanks Senators Rubio (R) and Menendez (D) for introducing the bill and for their unflagging efforts to counter the Uyghur crisis with bipartisan support. Speaking in support of the bill, Senator Rubio said, “It is not enough to sanction those directly responsible for these crimes — we also need to hold their supporters accountable.”
Senator Menendez added, “The administration must move forward with sanctions designations under the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act, as well as with the new authorities that this bill provides, and work with our allies and partners to hold China to account for its crimes.”
The bill was introduced as companion legislation to a House bill introduced by Representative Jim Banks (R), the Sanctioning Supporters of Slave Labor Act (H.R.7998).
The Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act—the first piece of legislation to impose consequences for atrocity crimes against Uyghurs—was introduced by Senators Rubio and Menendez in 2019 and mandated that the President impose Global Magnitsky human-rights sanctions on the officials and entities responsible for human rights abuses against Uyghurs.
Read more:
UHRP Supports U.S. Senate Bill to Strengthen Diplomatic Response to Uyghur Crisis, April 8, 2022
UHRP Welcomes New House Bill Addressing Uyghur Genocide in Key Provisions, January 26, 2022
UHRP Celebrates Historic Uyghur Bill Signed into Law, December 23, 2021
UHRP Supports U.S. Bill to Create Special Coordinator to Address Uyghur Crisis, September 30, 2021
UHRP welcomes Senate legislation to support safe haven for Uyghurs abroad, April 13, 2021
UHRP welcomes House bill to provide Uyghurs safe haven, March 9, 2021
In Historic First, Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act Becomes Law, June 17, 2020