The White House

The United States Congress has passed a bill that will enable the country to impose sanctions on foreign leaders guilty of corruption or gross human rights violations against whistleblowers.

The bill empowers the US government to place sanctions on corrupt public officials across the world.

It was passed under the US National Defense Authorization Act for the financial year 2017, and includes a provision on human rights sanctions known as the “Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act”.

It also enables the US President to freeze state assets that have been misappropriated.

The new bill further gives powers to the US government to hold accountable any foreign leader or citizen who attacks journalists and human rights defenders.

Global Magnitsky bill also enhances congressional involvement in the designation of individuals to be investigated for human rights violations, and helps to ensure that U.S. financial institutions are not complicit in supporting those making profits from atrocities.

The Enough Project, which this year released the Sentry report that detailed alleged acts of corruption fueling violence in South Sudan, has applauded the bipartisan effort to combat corruption, protect journalists, whistleblowers, and human rights defenders around the world.

The activist group, founded by George Clooney and John Prendergast had earlier called on the US government to take serious steps in addressing illegal gains it says were being made out of South Sudan conflicts.

The organization says the Act brings a unique focus on those who are complicit in corrupt acts, and those who facilitate or transfer the proceeds of corruption to foreign jurisdictions.

The act has been presented to President Barrack Obama to be signed into law.