The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) welcomes the unanimous adoption by the Parliament of Canada of Bill S-226 titled “Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei Magnitsky Law)” that will provide for the taking of restrictive measures in respect of foreign nationals responsible for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.
The Act takes its name from Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky whose 2009 death in a Moscow prison prompted widespread outrage internationally. This Act furthers Canada’s support for human rights and better enables it to protect activists who fight for human rights.
The United States had already adopted similar legislation titled “Russia and Moldova Jackson–Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012”.
“The Ukrainian World Congress welcomes this positive and resolute step by Canada to strengthen its protection of human rights worldwide and calls upon European states to adopt similar legislation,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
