WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, today announced a workshop to provide human rights organizations, transparency advocates, and congressional staff with the tools they need to effectively petition the U.S. government to review and potentially designate individuals and organizations for sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act.
HOW TO GET HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS AND KLEPTOCRATS SANCTIONED UNDER
THE GLOBAL MAGNITSKY ACT
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
3:00 p.m.
Capitol Visitor Center
Room SVC 212-10
Live Webcast: www.facebook.com/HelsinkiCommission
Sanctions experts will describe, from an operational perspective, how the U.S. government identifies, vets, and ultimately sanctions individuals. They also will discuss the evidentiary standards for sanctioning human rights violators vs. those engaged in serious acts of corruption. Finally, panelists will share investigative techniques, communications strategies, and responses to aggressive tactics used to intimidate human rights and transparency advocates.
Panelists include:
- Rob Berschinski, Senior Vice President, Human Rights First; former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
- Brad Brooks-Rubin, Managing Director, The Sentry; formerly with the Departments of State and Treasury
- Bill Browder, Founder and Director, Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign
- Mark Dubowitz, CEO, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
- Adam Smith, Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher; formerly with the National Security Council and Department of Treasury
- Josh White, Director of Policy and Analysis, The Sentry; formerly with the Department of Treasury
The Global Magnitsky Act is a powerful new tool for deterring human rights violations and fighting corruption. Presence on this list freezes any U.S. assets an individual may hold, blocks future transactions within the U.S. financial system, and bans any travel to the United States. By sanctioning individuals who engage in the worst abuses of power, the United States hardens its own system to external abuse while extending moral support and solidarity to those whose fundamental freedoms are curtailed or denied.
