Human Rights Watch Daily Brief, 31 March 2016
Global shame on Syria refugees; children & asylum in Mexico; penned in Gaza; shady role of US, UK & France in Yemen war; Steinmeier in Central Asia; President Azerbaijan visits US; Pakistan massacre; US withdraws nationals from unsafe Turkey; Algeria protests & the ugly side of the beautiful game.
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The United Nations has launched investigations into what the High Commissioner for Human Rights called "sickening" allegations of sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic. Human Rights Watch documented eight cases of rape and sexual abuse in February, 2016. Some victims have given birth to so-called "peacekeeper babies."
Zimbabwe has taken significant steps recently in ending child marriage. But the lives of millions of Zimbabwean girls are at stake and piecemeal government steps, as welcome as they are, will not be enough. More concrete action from the government is urgently needed.
A court in Angola has found 17 activists guilty of preparing a rebellion. The action that led to their arrest a year ago? A book club discussion on peaceful protest. The shocking verdict is a reminder that rights to freedom of speech and assembly are still a pipe dream in Angola.
From earlier today: The governments of 92 countries failed to pledge more than a slight increase in resettlement places for refugees from Syria during a high-level UN meeting in Geneva. “The Syrian refugee conference might more accurately have been named ‘Global Responsibility Avoidance,’” says Bill Frelick, Refugee Program director at Human Rights Watch.
In Mexico, children fleeing serious threats in Central American countries face daunting obstacles in applying for asylum, according to a report that HRW published today.
"Young people in Gaza want to travel. They want opportunities. They want freedom of movement. So do I", writes Deema El Ghoul, Human Rights Watch' research assistant in Gaza, in an article for The Huffington Post.