The European Union on Tuesday banned nine people accused of violating women’s rights and being involved in sexual exploitation. It also includes an Iranian prison facility with two senior members of the Taliban government, Russian military officers and police. Months of protests over Mahsa Amini’s death in September following her arrest by morality police were among the most serious challenges to Iran’s democracy since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Travel will be banned
“Ahead of International Women´s Day, we move from words to action. No matter where it happens, we will combat and eliminate all forms of violence against women, ” said EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy chief Josep Borrell. “With today´s decision, we are enhancing efforts to counter sexual and gender-based violence, to ensure that those responsible are fully accountable for their actions, and to combat impunity, ” he added.
Ban on two acting ministers of the Taliban
Those banned include two caretaker ministers of the Taliban government, who are accused of issuing decrees restricting the rights of women and girls. The Taliban have taken drastic measures since taking power in August 2021. Taliwan banned women’s public life and girls’ education beyond sixth grade.
Banning of two Russian military commanders
The European Union also targeted the head of the Moscow police station, Lt. Col. Alexander Georgievich Fedorinov, and one of his men. The commander is accused of arbitrarily arresting and detaining women anti-war protesters. Bans have also been imposed on two Russian military commanders, whose soldiers are accused of rape and sexual violence in Ukraine.
The new listings include:
- two acting Taliban ministers for Higher Education and for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, who are behind the decrees banning women from higher education and gender-segregated practices in public spaces
- officers of the Moscow Police Station responsible for arbitrary arrests and detentions as well as torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in the context of the censorship and oppression led by the Russian authorities. The listings will also target high-ranking members of the Russian armed forces, whose units systematically participated in acts of sexual and gender-based violence in Ukraine in March/April 2022, in the context of Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified military aggression against Ukraine
- commanders of the South Sudanese militias responsible for the widespread and systematic use of sexual and gender-based violence as a war tactic in the country
- the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in Myanmar/Burma
- the Qarchak Prison in Iran, the Syrian Republican Guard and the Office of the Chief of Military Security Affairs in Myanmar/Burma are sanctioned in view of their roles in serious sexual and gender-based human rights violations
According to the EU, the listed individuals and entities will now be subject to an asset freeze in the EU. In addition, listed individuals will be subject to a travel ban to the EU. Moreover, persons and entities in the EU will be prohibited from making funds available, either directly or indirectly, to those listed.
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