Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2009 of 22 July 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2024/2009 22.7.2024 COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2024/2009 of 22 July 2024 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 (1).

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) 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 the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999.

(5) Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1 The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.

Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 22 July 2024.

For the Council The President J. BORRELL FONTELLES

(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses (OJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 13).

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/2009/oj 1/6ANNEX The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 is amended as follows:

(1) the following entries are added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies under heading ‘A. Natural persons’:

Names (Transliteration into Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script) ‘115. Abdel Karim ﻢﻴﻫﺍﺮﺑﺇ ﺩﻮﻤﺤﻣ ﻢﻳﺮﻜﻟﺍ ﺪﺒﻋ Position(s): Chief of staff of the Abdel Karim Mohammad Ibrahim is the chief of staff of the Syrian Army. 22.7.2024 Mohammad IBRAHIM Syrian Army (Arabic spelling) The Syrian state, including its military, commits systematic and

POB: Tartous, Syria widespread torture, rape and sexual and gender-based violence against civilians.

Nationality: Syrian As the chief of staff of the Syrian Army, Abdel Karim Mohammad Ibrahim

Gender: male is responsible for the actions of the armed forces under his command.

Therefore, Abdel Karim Mohammad Ibrahim is responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture and systematic and widespread sexual and gender-based violence.

116. Ali Mahmoud ABBAS ﺱﺎﺒﻋ ﺩﻮﻤﺤﻣ ﻲﻠﻋ Position(s): Minister of Defence Ali Mahmoud Abbas has been the Minister of Defence of Syria and Deputy 22.7.2024 and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Army since 2022.

(Arabic spelling) Commander-in-Chief of the The Syrian state, including its military, commits systematic and Army widespread torture, rape as well as sexual and gender-based violence

DOB: 2.11.1964 against civilians.

POB: Rif Dimashq, Syria As the Minister of Defense of Syria and Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Syrian Army, Ali Mahmoud Abbas is responsible for the actions of the

Nationality: Syrian armed forces under his command.

Gender: male Therefore, Ali Mahmoud Abbas is responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture and systematic and widespread sexual and gender-based violence.

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ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/2009/oj EN OJ L,

22.7.2024Names (Transliteration into Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script)

117. RI Chang Dae Position(s): Minister of State Ri Chang Dae has been the Minister of State Security in the Democratic 22.7.2024 Security People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) since 2022.

Nationality: Democratic People’s Women and girls showing opposition to the regime or held in detention Republic of Korea (DPRK) or prison centres in DPRK are systematically targeted by violence, particularly under the guard of the Ministry of State Security and in

Gender: male centres run by that Ministry.

As head of the Ministry of State Security, Ri Chang Dae is responsible for numerous acts of sexual and gender-based violence committed by officials of that Ministry.

Ri Chang Dae is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations, including systematic and widespread sexual and gender-based violence.

ELI:

http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/2009/oj 3/6 OJ L,

22.7.2024 ENNames (Transliteration into Names Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script) 118*. Evgeniy Aleksandrovich Евгений Александрович Position(s): Head of the Evgeniy Sobolev is the head of the penitentiary service of the Russian 22.7.2024’ SOBOLEV Соболев penitentiary service of the occupation authorities in the Kherson region.

Russian occupation authorities a.k.a. Yevhen (Russian spelling) Under his command, a widespread and systematic pattern of human rights in the Kherson region Oleksandrovich violations in detention facilities in areas under the control of the Russian

SOBOLEV DOB: 25.7.1985 occupation authorities, including the Kherson region, has been documented.

POB: Nova Kakhovka, Kherson region, Ukraine This pattern includes torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and sexual and gender-based violence. The

Nationality: Russian practices involved include rape, forced nudity, genital electrocution and

Gender: male threats of genital mutilation.

Passport No.: 3125216313 Persons suspected of passing information to the Ukrainian authorities, or of supporting the Ukrainian armed forces, have been specifically targeted.

In his capacity as head of the penitentiary service of the Russian occupational authorities in the Kherson region, Evgeniy Sobolev is responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment and other human rights violations, including systematic and widespread sexual and gender-based violence.

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http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/2009/oj EN OJ L,

22.7.2024(2) the following entries are added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies under heading ‘B. Legal persons, entities and bodies’:

Name (Transliteration into Name Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script) ‘32. Kokorat San Ras Type of entity: Haitian gang Kokorat San Ras is a gang operating in Haiti that came into existence and 22.7.2024 operating mostly in the gained strength between 2015 and 2017. It operates in specific areas Artibonite and North West (Artibonite/North-West) and its influence keeps on growing.

region Kokorat San Ras is well known for its use of violent attacks and physical aggression in order to gain control of more areas. During those attacks, rape and other violence against women are a common weapon.

Kokorat San Ras is therefore responsible for serious human rights abuses, including systematic and widespread sexual and gender-based violence.

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http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2024/2009/oj 5/6 OJ L,

22.7.2024 ENName (Transliteration into Name Identifying information Reasons for listing Date of listing Latin script)

33. Onsong County MSS Type of entity: detention centre Onsong County MSS Detention Centre is a detention facility in North 22.7.2024’ Detention Centre Hamgyong Province of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Place of registration: Onsong County, North Hamgyong The facility is managed by the DPRK’s general police force, the Ministry of Province, Democratic People’s People’s Security (MPS), and is staffed by MPS state officials and Republic of Korea (DPRK) correctional officers.

In the Onsong County MSS Detention Centre, torture is an established part of the interrogation process, used to extract a full confession of those arbitrarily detained.

Examples of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment include the prolonged denial of food, starvation, denial of medical assistance, lack of hygiene, positional torture.

Detainees in the Onsong County MSS Detention Centre are also subject to rape and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence, such as enslavement, invasive body searches, forced abortions, and systematic targeting of women’s capacity to reproduce.

The Onsong County MSS Detention Centre is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations, including torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, arbitrary arrest or detention, as well as other human rights violations, including systematic and widespread sexual and gender-based violence.

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