# The Global Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Sanctions Regulations 2026, Note: Explanatory note

Extent: E+W+S+N.I.

(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations are made under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 (c. 13) to establish a sanctions regime for the purposes of: deterring, and providing accountability for: activities which, if carried out by or on behalf of a State, would amount to serious violations of certain human rights by that State; serious violations of international humanitarian law; and obstruction of the delivery or distribution of, or access to humanitarian assistance around the world.
The Regulations revoke and replace the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/680) (“the 2020 Regulations”).
The Regulations confer a power on the Secretary of State to designate persons who are, or have been, involved: in activities which, if carried out by or on behalf of a State, would amount to serious violations of certain human rights by that State; in serious violations of international humanitarian law; or in the obstruction of the delivery or distribution of, or access to, humanitarian assistance. Designated persons may be excluded from the United Kingdom, may be made subject to financial sanctions, including having their funds or economic resources frozen, and may be made subject to director disqualification sanctions.
The Regulations provide for certain exceptions to this sanctions regime (for example to allow for frozen accounts to be credited with interest or other earnings and to allow acts done for the purpose of national security or the prevention of serious crime). The Regulations also confer powers on the Treasury to issue licences in respect of activities that would otherwise be prohibited under the asset freeze, etc. provisions in regulations 14 to 18. Schedule 2 sets out the purposes under which the Treasury will issue licences to particular persons. The Regulations also confer powers on the Secretary of State to issue licences in respect of activities that would otherwise be prohibited under the director disqualification sanctions imposed.
The Regulations prescribe powers for the provision and sharing of information to enable the effective implementation and enforcement of the sanctions regime. The Regulations make it a criminal offence to contravene, or circumvent, any of the prohibitions in these Regulations and prescribe the mode of trial and penalties that apply to such offences.
The Regulations also contain supplementary provision, including transitional provision to ensure that designations made and licences issued under the 2020 Regulations continue to have effect under these Regulations.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen. Instead a de minimis assessment has been prepared as this instrument is likely to entail some costs for businesses, but the net impact is estimated to be below £5 million per year.

---
Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/1071/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/global-human-rights-and-international-humanitarian-law-sanctions-regulations-2026/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.