Human Rights Watch Daily Brief, 17 July 2014

Street children in Uganda face violence, exploitation, and physical and sexual abuse, Human Rights Watch said in a new report today. As well as being attacked by members of the community, police and government officials also commit human rights abuses against them. Many children are thrown into adult prisons, where they are then subjected to further abuse, as well as forced labour. This stunning photo essay captures their plight.  A five-hour ceasefire is underway in Gaza between Israel and Hamas on humanitarian grounds. Human Rights Watch has said that Israel should end unlawful attacks that do not target military objectives and may be intended as "collective punishment". It comes as four children were killed in an Israeli strike while playing on a beach yesterday.  Cambodian authorities should drop trumped-up charges against six leading opposition politicians and immediately and unconditionally release them, HRW has said. A Phnom Penh court has charged the elected members of parliament with insurrection, intentional violence, and obstructing government officials. Iraqi armed forces have again barrel-bombed Fallujah, according to reports. Earlier this year, HRW documented how government forces had been "firing wildly" into Fallujah's residential neighbourhoods, with reckless disregard for civilian lives.  A blogger and academic in Tajikistan has still not been seen or heard of since being detained by the Tajik authorities one month ago. Alexander Sodiqov should be immediately released, or credibly charged with an offence.