Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2008 of 22 July 2024 implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2008of 22 July 2024implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abusesTHE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abusesOJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 1., and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,Whereas:(1)On 8 December 2020, in the Declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on behalf of the European Union regarding the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. Achieving the effective enjoyment of human rights by everyone is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights are fundamental values of the Union and its common foreign and security policy.(2)In its conclusions of 14 November 2022, the Council expressed concern about the disproportionate effect that armed conflicts continue to have on women and girls worldwide, as well as the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence including conflict-related sexual violence, offline and online. It committed to enhanced efforts to counter such violence in order to ensure full accountability and to combat impunity. Furthermore, in its conclusions of June 2014, the Council had stressed that combating and eliminating all forms of violence against women requires coordinated policies at all relevant levels and a comprehensive approach targeting the key issues of prevention, under-reporting, protection, victim support, and the prosecution of perpetrators as well as other measures. The strategic use of restrictive measures reinforces this approach by increasing pressure to prevent further violations and abuses and, in coordination with other Union instruments in the human rights toolbox, draws attention to these violations and abuses and those responsible.(3)In that context, four persons and two entities should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.(4)Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 should therefore be amended accordingly,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: