Human Rights Watch Daily Brief, 1 December 2014

Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak has had charges against him dropped for his role in the killing of protesters during the uprising which ousted him three years ago. Police used teargas to disperse hundreds of protesters from Cairo's Tahrir Square over the weekend, expressing their fury that Mubarak will not face justice. At least 800 people are thought to have died as security forces battled protesters in a tussle for power in 2011, which eventually led to Mubarak's overthrow. The past 24 hours have seen the worst unrest for two months in Hong Kong, as police seeking to disperse protest camps clashed with pro-democracy activists. Protesters fought police who were armed with pepper spray, batons and water hoses, and there are fears violence could escalate further. Hong Kong should protect the rights of its people to protest peacefully. Staying with China, as its allies including Australia rush to embrace the country due to strategic economic and trade ties, that doesn't mean leaders should overlook the true nature of the regime in Beijing. How do you treat a warlord accused of mass atrocities? It seems the Republic of Congo is confused about the difference between a potential war criminal and a VIP. The US administration should raise Uzbekistan’s "abysmal" human rights record at bilateral talks which are due to begin in Tashkent today. The US should also be prepared to consider tough measures – including targeted sanctions – if horrific rights abuses continue. Gambia has threatened to sever all dialogue with the European Union in a row over the country's odious new anti-gay law. The EU is mulling whether to release some USD$180 million in aid to Gambia, but is considering holding back the cash due to a growing rights crackdown in the country. Thousands of people in Germany have taken part in silent vigils across the country to pay tribute to a 22-year-old woman who was beaten to death when she intervened to stop a group of men harassing two women. Many are saying the case shows how violence against women is still prevalent all over the world, including in Europe. The UN is investigating fresh claims of abuse of migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates, where branches of several major Western museums are being built. The complaint, including allegations of forced labour, was brought by the International Trade Union Confederation. Its findings are expected to be supported by a forthcoming report from Human Rights Watch, due for release in January. Today is World AIDS Day, and it's time to take a look at how the US is coping with the issue of HIV. When the virus first appeared in the US 30 years ago, it was largely in affluent cities like New York and San Francisco. But today it's spreading fastest in the southern US, where stigma, discrimination and lack of investment help contribute to the spread of the disease.