Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act 2017 (Sergei Magnitsky Law)

Summary

Canada's Magnitsky law enabling the government to impose sanctions (asset freezes and travel bans) on foreign nationals who are responsible for gross violations of internationally recognised human rights or who are senior foreign officials who engage in corruption. Amendments in 2017 extended coverage to corruption-based designations.

Relevance to the diaspora

Tamil-Canadian advocacy groups have lobbied for the designation of Sri Lankan military commanders responsible for the Mullivaikkal massacre and post-war enforced disappearances under this Act; no designations have been made against Sri Lanka as of 2024.

Key provisions

• s.4 — authority to make orders listing foreign nationals
• s.4(1)(a) — responsible for gross violations of internationally recognised human rights
• s.7 — asset freeze
• s.8 — prohibition on dealings with listed persons

Primary source

Related entries

• → Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act 2016 (US)
• → Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 (UK Magnitsky) (UK)
• → EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime 2020 (EU)