Human Rights Watch Daily Brief, 18 March 2016

Let’s not confuse desperation for legality when it comes to the proposed refugee deal of the European Union with Turkey. As talks continue in Brussels, this deal endangers the very principle of international protection for people who are fleeing war, conflict and persecution in countries such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Eritrea. Inspired by Australia's harsh boat turn-back policy, UK's prime minister David Cameron wants to see refugee boats turned back to Libya. Rights have deteriorated rapidly in Crimea during the past two years of Russian rule. The new authorities have created a pervasive climate of fear and repression. It is crucial for key international actors to keep Crimea’s human rights situation high on their agendas. The death toll of a recent bombing by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition in Yemen has risen to 120. A United Nations official said 22 children were among those killed on Tuesday during an attack on a market in Hajja province. One year ago, Kenya finally announced a fund to help survivors of the widespread 2007-2008 post-election violence. It was the first sign of hope for hundreds of women who were brutally raped during that conflict and are still suffering the consequences. But what little has happened since. Has Chinese journalist Jia Jia, 'disappeared' since Tuesday, become the latest victim of the crackdown on dissent by the regime in Beijing? It is unacceptable that 260 million people are considered inferior. Caste-affected countries such as India should take urgent action to combat this type of discrimination, according to a new report of the UN Special Rapporteur on minority issues.