WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after the Canadian Parliament approved legislation to hold corrupt leaders and human rights abusers accountable worldwide. Cardin and U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) are the co-authors of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which became U.S. law in December 2016, the inspiration behind Canada and other nations’ legislation:

“The passage of the Justice for Victims of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act is an important step in the fight against impunity around the world. When our nations unite behind one cause, it is a powerful and consequential message that we will uphold our shared values and will not tolerate human rights violations, corruption, or any action that undermines the rule of law.

“The passage of this law also commemorates the activists, including Sergei Magnitsky, who gave their lives to fight for accountability and stand for principle. I applaud my Canadian counterparts for this effort and look forward to closer cooperation in the fight against corrupt leaders and human rights abusers.”