EU approves list of sanctions for violating women's rights

The European Union (EU) has agreed, for the first time, on a package of sanctions against those whom it considers responsible for sexual violence and violation of women's rights, the Spanish agency EFE said, Report informs via TASS.

The decision was made on the eve of International Women's Day on the initiative of the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, Wopke Hoekstra.

Hoekstra noted that in conflicts, for example, in Ukraine and South Sudan, sexual violence occurs, especially concerning women and girls.

Then he added that women's rights are seriously violated during protests, imprisonment and oppression, as in Iran, Myanmar, Syria or Afghanistan.

According to Europa Press, the list includes three organizations and nine individuals, including the Russian military - division commander Nikolai Kuznetsov and Colonel Ramil Ibatullin. The EU argues that their units are involved in sexual violence against women in Ukraine. Also, Colonel Alexander Fedorinov and policeman Ivan Ryabov, both from the Moscow Main Department of Internal Affairs, because of the detentions of protesters, fell under the sanctions of Brussels.

The list also included a representative of the Government of Afghanistan, formed by the Taliban movement, Mohammad Jalid Hanafi, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Myanmar and two police officers from South Sudan. In addition, the Republican Guard of Syria, the Headquarters on Military Affairs and Security of Myanmar and Iranian penitentiary institutions will fall under sanctions.