Human Rights Watch Daily Brief, 20 May 2015

Russia's crackdown on civil society deepens, as a new bill endorsed by the Russian parliament targets "undesirable organizations" and bans the activities of foreign or international groups whom the Russian government deems as threats to security. Following the recent executions of two Australians by Indonesia, the Australian government has an opportunity to become a more vocal opponent of the death penalty worldwide and should use its voice to advocate for the punishment's abolition. From earlier today: Attacks on medical facilities, health workers and patients are frighteningly common a new global report shows. Health facilities have been attacked in at least 17 countries undergoing conflict since the start of last year, many of them in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan and Syria. Amid a mounting humanitarian crisis, Malaysia and Indonesia have said they will offer thousands of Rohingya boat people trapped at sea temporary shelter on their shores. But it's not clear what role Thailand is willing to play in helping the migrants. A UN watchdog has blasted the Iraqi authorities for failing to properly support and protect the nearly three million people displaced within its borders by the extremist group Islamic State (ISIS). Military doctors from around the world are meeting in Indonesia this week. But why have delegates so far feigned ignorance about the pain and humiliation that the Indonesian military inflicts on women through its barbaric and discredited “virginity tests”? Israel launched a pilot program to separate Israeli and Palestinian bus travelers in the West Bank, but a huge outcry saw it scrapped just hours after launching.