REDRESS

⚖️REDRESS welcomes the news that Petr Aven, a billionaire closely linked to Vladimir Putin, has forfeited £750,000 after a two-year investigation into sanctions evasion: https://lnkd.in/gWkh3eJK 💷This is the first time that a UK enforcement body has successfully recovered assets linked to a sanctioned Russian oligarch. 🗣️REDRESS has long called on the UK government to strengthen its approach to sanctions enforcement. 🫂While we welcome this decision, it is now crucial that a portion of the funds confiscated reach victims of the conflict in Ukraine. 🔗Learn how this can be achieved in our briefing: https://lnkd.in/eSVpkT29  

🗣 Sayed AlWadaei, Director de Activisimo del Instituto Bahreiní de Derechos y Democracia, lleva una cicatriz en la frente de por vida, recordatorio diario de la brutalidad de la policía bahreiní. El activista prodemocrático también se convirtió en apátrida y su familia pasó a estar amenazada tras participar en las protestas prodemocráticas de 2011. Ahora que se acerca el 40 aniversario de la Convención contra la Tortura de la ONU, Sayed comparte sus esperanzas de que los Estados apoyen a los sobrevivientes de la tortura como él erradicando la tortura. La aplicación de la Convención contra la Tortura es clave para lograrlo. Lee su entrevista completa: https://bit.ly/3LMTIkR #UnidosContraLaTortura 🤝 Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) FIACAT IRCT International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims Omega Research Foundation

🗣 Sayed AlWadaei, directeur du plaidoyer de l'Institut bahreïni pour les droits et la démocratie, porte à vie une cicatrice sur le front, rappel quotidien de la brutalité de la police bahreïnienne. Le militant pro-démocratie est aussi devenu apatride et sa famille a été menacée suite à sa participation à des manifestations pro-démocratiques en 2011. À l'approche du 40e anniversaire de la Convention des Nations unies contre la torture, il fait part de son espoir de voir les États soutenir les survivants comme lui en éradiquant la torture. La mise en œuvre de la Convention contre la torture est essentielle pour y parvenir. L'histoire complète de Sayed : https://bit.ly/4f51W58 #UnitedAgainstTorture 🤝 Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) FIACAT IRCT International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims Omega Research Foundation

يحمل سيد الوداعي، مدير المناصرة في المعهد البحريني للحقوق والديمقراطية، ندبة على جبينه مدى الحياة، وهي تذكير يومي بوحشية الشرطة البحرينية. كما أصبح الناشط المؤيد للديمقراطية بلا جنسية وأصبحت عائلته تحت التهديد بعد مشاركته في الاحتجاجات المؤيدة للديمقراطية في عام 2011 وبينما نقترب من الذكرى الأربعين لاتفاقية الأمم المتحدة لمناهضة التعذيب، يشاركنا أمله في أن تقف الدول مع الناجين من التعذيب مثله من خلال استئصال التعذيب من جذوره. إن تنفيذ اتفاقية مناهضة التعذيب هو خطوة أساسية لتحقيق ذلك https://bit.ly/4dgBVhz :قصة سعيد الكاملة #متحدون_ضد_التعذيب 🤝 Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) FIACAT IRCT International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims Omega Research Foundation

🗣️ Sayed AlWadaei, Director of Advocacy at the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, bears a scar on his forehead for life, a daily reminder of the brutality of the Bahraini police. The pro-democracy activist was also made stateless and his family became under threat after participating in pro-democracy protests in 2011. As we approach the 40th anniversary of the UN Convention against Torture, he shares his hopes for States to stand with survivors of torture like him by rooting out torture. Implementing the Convention against Torture is key to achieving this. Sayed's Full Story: https://bit.ly/3SbNxKz #UnitedAgainstTorture 🤝 IRCT International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims FIACAT World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) Omega Research Foundation Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT)

This report by Spotlight on Corruption further demonstrates that a lack of a clear sanctions enforcement strategy is undermining the UK's efforts to support Ukraine. To date, the government has still not imposed a single fine for breaches of financial sanctions.. This is money that can and should be used to help finance reparation for survivors of human rights abuses. To learn more about how the UK can finance reparations, you can also read our report: https://lnkd.in/eSVpkT29

🆕The UK has been quick to use its sanctions powers since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But when it comes to enforcing those sanctions is it a case of “All bark and no bite?” 📒 That’s what we investigated in our most recent report launched today: https://lnkd.in/gA2bgvre The numbers are stark: 0️⃣ fines for breaches of financial sanctions imposed since 2022 0️⃣ convictions for sanctions evasion since 2012 0️⃣ assets permanently seized through civil or criminal action related to sanctions violations In addition, we found: 👍A welcome step change in the UK sanctions ambitions 👎But a fragmented structure spread across multiple depts and agencies that makes it hard to enforce sanctions or implement a clear enforcement strategy (which doesn't exist) 👍Tough talk from the government on sanctions and unprecedented powers to enforce them.  👎But early efforts raise serious questions about whether there is political will and enforcement capacity to follow through with civil or criminal action against those who breach the rules. 👇So the report makes four key recommendations to help give sanctions enforcement real teeth:  1️⃣ The new government should develop and publicise a clear and ambitious cross-system sanctions enforcement strategy. 2️⃣ The new government should establish a cross-departmental sanctions task force, overseen by a single minister responsible for sanctions delivery, to improve domestic coordination on sanctions enforcement. 3️⃣ The new government should launch a sanctions transparency tracker to collate and publish centralised data on sanctions. 4️⃣ The incoming chairs of parliamentary committees should collaborate on a comprehensive, cross-committee inquiry into the UK’s sanctions regime and establish parliamentary mechanisms for the routine oversight of sanctions. 👇 Helen Taylor, the report's author, says it is vital that the new government shifts gear to unlock the power of sanctions: #sanctions #enforcement #evasion

🤝 We have joined Freedom Now and others in calling for the release of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, who was wrongfully arrested one year ago in #Azerbaijan while visiting family. Dr. Ibadoghlu is a well-known academic and anti-corruption expert who has taught and conducted research on public finance management and good governance, as well as serving as Chairman of the Azerbaijan Democracy and Prosperity Movement. We condemn the ongoing crackdown against civil society in Azerbaijan and call for Dr. Ibadoghlu's immediate and unconditional release. Read the letter 📝 https://lnkd.in/eZsbnDaF

☀ Exciting opportunity alert! The “Global Initiative Against Impunity is launching a Call for Proposals to support civil society organisations working on justice and accountability for serious human rights violations worldwide. Funding details: 💶EUR 30,000 – 80,000 📅6-18 months project duration 🎯Deadline to apply: 17 August 2024 💡For more detailed information on applications (Information available in Spanish, French, Russian and Arabic) 👇 https://lnkd.in/eyNy3Ek2

The European Union has formed a "strategic and comprehensive partnership" with Egypt, despite persistent reports of human rights abuses, including torture. Civil society groups have criticised the new partnership in light of Egypt's ongoing violations. Last year, REDRESS' legal analysis found that torture in Egypt was so widespread and systematic, it constituted a crime against humanity. Learn more in our blog from REDRESS Advocacy Officer Olivia D. ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ekcM__qv