Sanctions Notice - Global Human Rights and International Humanitarian Sanctions Regime
15th October 2026Please be advised that the UK has revoked the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 and replaced them with the Global Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Sanctions Regulations, 2026 (the UK Regulations). This change expands the scope of the regime to include serious violations of international humanitarian law and promote compliance with international humanitarian standards and facilitating humanitarian assistance worldwide. All designations and licences in force under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regulations 2020 will continue to have effect under the UK Regulations.
In response to this development, and in accordance with the longstanding constitutional convention that the Bailiwick aligns with the UK on foreign policy matters, the Policy & Resources Committee has enacted the Sanctions (Implementation of UK Regimes) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) (Amendment - Global Human Rights etc. Sanctions) Regulations, 2026. These Regulations give effect within the Bailiwick to the new UK sanctions regime.
What Businesses Must Do
If they have not done so already, businesses must check whether they maintain any accounts or otherwise have any kind of relationship with any legal person, entity or body designated under the legislation referred to above and must treat any funds, other assets or economic resources
directly or indirectly belonging to, owned, held or controlled by them, whether wholly or jointly, or
that comprise interest, dividends or other forms of property derived from any funds or economic resources that belong to them or are owned, held or controlled by them, whether directly or indirectly and wholly or jointly, or
belonging to individuals or entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, whether wholly or jointly
as frozen with immediate effect if this is not already the case. Businesses must report any findings to the Policy & Resources Committee immediately. They must also ensure that they have taken all other steps that may be required in order to comply with the reporting obligations at section 14 of the Sanctions Law.
Businesses must also refrain from making any funds or economic resources available directly or indirectly, wholly or jointly, to or for the benefit of
any designated person, entity or body
any entity directly or indirectly owned or controlled by a designated person, entity or body, whether wholly or jointly
any individuals or entities acting on behalf or at the direction of a designated person, entity or body, whether wholly or jointly
other than in respect of transactions that come within a permitted derogation as determined by the Policy & Resources Committee, or in accordance with a licence issued by the Policy & Resources Committee, as the case may be.
The information referred to above is required by the Policy & Resources Committee in the exercise of its powers under section 15 of the Sanctions Law.
Any information or queries should be sent to [email protected] with the subject line “Global Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Sanctions”.
Where you have identified an affected relationship as set out above, please also inform the Guernsey Financial Services Commission via email to [email protected] providing short form information on the nature of the sanction connection and the measures you have taken or intend to take.
Handbook Rule 12.37, requires that, where you have identified an affected relationship as set out above, the firm must provide a report to the Commission which sets out, as a minimum: a) the name of the customer, beneficial owner, key principal or the transaction and/or asset linked to a sanctioned/designated person; and b) the nature of the business relationship or occasional transaction, including the transaction and/or asset value.
This report should be provided to the Commission as soon as reasonably practicable after the firm has met the statutory reporting requirements to the States of Guernsey Policy and Resources Committee.
Further information on the effect of asset freezes and related issues including licences is available on the States of Guernsey website at http://www.gov.gg/sanctions.