At a hearing held today by a congressional panel that oversees global human rights issues, Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) and other lawmakers examined legislation that would block the worst foreign human rights offenders and most corrupt officials from entering the United States or owning U.S. assets.

“The Global Magnitsky Act is intended to disrupt the impunity and comfort that far too many international human rights violators currently enjoy and to keep their tainted money out of our financial systems. It also fights the human rights abuses and corruption that generate national security, terrorism, and economic threats to the United States,” said Smith, who chairs the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which called the hearing. 

“If we stand by quietly when governments to refuse to prosecute human rights abusers and financial fraudsters, and then welcome those guilty of such crimes into the United States and into our financial systems, we are enabling their crimes,” he continued. “The 2012 Magnitsky Act was a major step in freeing ourselves from aiding and abetting international perpetrators.  [The Global Magnitsky Act] makes the next step in taking a stand against their crimes.”

Witnesses testifying at the hearing focused on the importance of developing a mechanism that effectively targets those who egregiously abuse internationally recognized human rights or commit major acts of corruption, whatever their citizenship or country of residence.

“The need for a global act that can accommodate victims of human rights abuse around the world has become abundantly clear,” said William Browder, CEO of Hermitage Capital Management and leader of the Global Justice Campaign for Sergei Magnitsky. “Totalitarian dictatorships ultimately fall, and when they do, the Global Magnitsky Act will prevent those who have committed human rights abuses from claiming asylum almost anywhere in the world.”  Click here to read his opening remarks.

“The expansion of the Magnitsky Act to apply universally to all officials who have directed, ordered or committed gross human rights violations will show strong American leadership to protect the fundamental human rights of all people around the world,” said Rebiya Kadeer, president of the World Uyghur Congress. “Listing some of the most well-known human rights violators in authoritarian states… will send a powerful message to low-ranking officials that their criminal actions will not be immune to international scrutiny, condemnation, and consequences.” Click here to read her opening remarks.

“Corrupt regimes also often exert a destabilizing influence on international affairs,” said Kenneth R. Weinstein, president and CEO of the Hudson Institute. “America is a leader in confronting criminal regimes in the name of freedom. Global Magnitsky will continue this legacy, setting an example for others in refusing to lend legitimacy to human rights abusers by sheltering their stolen assets and welcoming them to our shores.” Click here to read his opening remarks.

Dr. Daniel Calingaert, Ph.D.,Executive Vice President of Freedom House, also testified.

    "I commend Congressman Chris Smith and Congressman Jim McGovern for introducing the Global Magnitsky Act in the U.S. House of Representatives," Calingaert said. "This bill would target corrupt officials and perpetrators of human rights abuses and begin to hold them to account. All too often, they act with impunity. The bill thus would bolster U.S. efforts to advance human rights at a time when fundamental freedoms are under assault around the world."  Click here to read his opening remarks.

The “Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act” requires the President to identify foreign persons or entities that are responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights – including extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and prolonged, arbitrary detention – or significant corruption. It globalizes and strengthens the “Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012,” which was directed at individuals and entities from Russia.

The “Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act” currently has substantial bipartisan support, with 21 Democratic and 19 Republican co-sponsors. The legislation already has been endorsed by 32 human rights groups, including Freedom House, Human Rights Watch, Reporters Without Borders, Transparency International, and International Christian Concern.

Both the “Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act” and the earlier “Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012” were inspired by Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who was arrested and imprisoned by the Russian government following his investigation into fraud involving Russian officials. He was beaten to death by prison guards in 2009 after being held in torturous conditions for 11 months without trial. 

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