More Sanctions, Export Controls Could Help Fight Repression, Groups Say

Congress should consider encouraging greater use of export controls and sanctions to counter a recent surge in the repression of political dissent abroad, hearing witnesses told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week.

Douglas Rutzen, CEO of the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law, said that while the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act “has significantly advanced accountability for human rights violations around the world” since it went into effect in 2017, its use has slowed in recent years, as highlighted in a recent report by Human Rights First.

“Perhaps the committee could exercise its oversight role to promote more and effective use of these authorities,” Rutzen said in written testimony. “We would also welcome legislative language encouraging the administration to consider transnational repression, and the undermining of democratic institutions, when determining whether to impose sanctions.”

Rutzen said such measures are needed because many foreign governments are turning to legislation to restrict human rights organizations and other civil society groups. Over the past five years, 72 countries have introduced more than 270 legal initiatives to restrict civil society, his organization has found.

Yaqiu Wang, research director for China, Hong Kong and Taiwan at Freedom House, said Congress should consider expanding the Bureau of Industry and Security’s Entity List to include Chinese technology companies responsible for human rights violations. “For example, companies that knowingly provide surveillance systems used for repressive crackdowns in places like [China's] Xinjiang [region] should face economic penalties,” Wang said in written testimony.

Responding to a question from Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., about Hong Kong’s recent crackdown on nongovernmental organizations, Wang suggested expanding the list of Hong Kong officials sanctioned for repression.

“Sanctions do work, especially for officials in Hong Kong. They usually have foreign bank accounts, so it does make a difference,” she said. “Also, it sends a message to people who are fighting for freedom [that] the U.S. government is taking actions. It inspires them to keep going.”

Wang said her organization has endorsed the proposed Transnational Repression Policy Act, which was introduced in May 2023 and would sanction foreign entities and people who directly engage in transnational repression.

Van Hollen said he plans to ask Wang for written comments on how to counter Chinese exports of surveillance technology used for repression.

Committee Chairman Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., said he believes more enforcement of existing sanctions would help counter repression, as would new tools, such as a pending bill that would sanction Georgian officials for passing legislation that cracks down on civil society organizations and independent media outlets (see 2405240063).