Promoting Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence

This memorandum directs federal agencies to use existing sanctions, visa restrictions, security assistance, and diplomatic tools to promote accountability for conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) worldwide. It establishes that CRSV may constitute 'serious human rights abuse' under Executive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky) and other sanctions programs, and directs the Secretaries of State and Treasury, Attorney General, and DNI to strengthen information collection and target perpetrators.

Federal Register Open PDF 87 FR 74485

Key directives

Directs Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Attorney General, and DNI to ensure equal consideration of CRSV in sanctions designations and strengthen information collection capacity (Sec. 2(c))
Directs agency heads, including Secretary of State and Secretary of Treasury, to use existing authorities to fullest extent for CRSV accountability, including Leahy Laws and appropriations provisions (Sec. 3)
Directs agencies engaged abroad to amplify bilateral and multilateral efforts on CRSV accountability (Sec. 4)
Authorizes Secretary of State to publish memorandum in Federal Register (Sec. 6(d))

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Policy declaration that CRSV constitutes 'serious human rights abuse' under EO 13818 and other sanctions authorities
Direction to agencies to ensure equal consideration of CRSV in sanctions targeting

Near term (90d)

State, Treasury, Justice, and DNI to issue guidance or regulations on CRSV sanctions targeting
Agencies to strengthen capacity to collect and share CRSV information
State and Treasury to consider CRSV in Leahy Law and 7031(c)/7048(g) assessments

Long term

Broadened coalition-building with foreign partners and international organizations
Ongoing sanctions designations and visa restrictions for CRSV perpetrators
Strengthened multilateral policies and survivor-centered programming

Risks & tensions

No specific deadlines or reporting requirements may limit accountability for implementation
Reliance on 'existing authorities' and 'subject to availability of appropriations' may constrain actual resource allocation
Information gathering from survivors requires safety protections; document acknowledges but does not mandate specific protocols
Potential tension between sanctions goals and diplomatic relationships with partner governments
Vague 'to the fullest extent possible' language leaves discretion to agencies