PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Cameroon: Freezing of Assets (16 September 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what plans he has to bring in Magnitsky-style sanctions on the financial assets of any member of the (a) Government of Cameroon, (b) armed forces and (c) armed groups in Cameroon.

Asked by:
Dame Harriett Baldwin (Conservative)

The UK Government is deeply concerned about reports of human rights abuses and violations by both armed separatists and security forces in Cameroon. We continue to call for investigations into all such reports. As the UK's International Ambassador for Human Rights set out at the UN Human Rights Council on 15 September, those who have abused and violated human rights in Cameroon, as anywhere else in the world, must be held responsible.

On 6 July, the UK Government established the Global Human Rights ('Magnitsky') sanctions regime by laying regulations in Parliament under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. This sanctions regime gives the UK a powerful new tool to hold to account those involved in serious human rights violations or abuses by stopping them from entering our country, channeling money through UK banks, or profiting from our economy, through the use of both asset freezes and travel bans. It is longstanding practice not to speculate on future sanctions designations as to do so could reduce the impact of the designations.

Answered by:
Sir James Duddridge (Conservative)
25 September 2020