Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly announced Canada will impose new sanctions on Russia, Iran and Myanmar, which are "complicit in gross and systematic human rights violations.".These sanctions are being levied against a total of 67 individuals and 9 entities..“Dignity, freedom and justice are pillars of Canada’s foreign policy," said Joly on Friday.."As the world witnesses the trampling of human rights of people in places such as Russia, Iran and Myanmar, we are reminded that we can only create change by standing up and defending the values that we hold dear.".In Russia, Canada will impose sanctions against 33 current or former senior officials and 6 entities involved in "gross and systematic human rights violations against Russian citizens who protest against the Russian regime’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.".Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 2,100 individuals and entities since Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014. Sanctions on a further 1,500 individuals and entities and Russia have been implemented since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. .The Canadian government will impose sanctions on 22 Iranian individuals. This includes senior members of the Iranian judiciary, prison system and law enforcement forces, as well as "political leaders, such as senior aides to the regime’s Supreme Leader and senior figures in state-directed media outlets.".Finally, Canada is imposing sanctions against 12 individuals and 3 entities who "perform key functions for the Myanmar military, are responsible for democratic reversals, facilitate arms flows to the regime and enable the regime’s violence, including against civilians.".Canada has had sanctions against Myanmar since 2007, including an arms embargo and a dealings ban on listed persons, which targeted both entities and individuals. Canada imposed two subsequent rounds of sanctions in response to the 2017 Rohingya crisis..In response to the military coup in 2021, Canada has now imposed 6 further rounds of sanctions.."There is more work to be done, but Canada will never stop standing up for human rights," said Joly.
