Human Rights Watch Daily Brief, 9 June 2016
Barriers for migrant kids in Sweden; "outrages against civilians" in Fallujah; Papua New Guinea shooting; UK under fire on Saudi; re-writing history in China; North Koreans strike in Kuwait; cost of war; Eritrea's crimes against humanity; Indonesia reporter in hiding; dodging justice in S Sudan...
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Last month, a military investigation deemed the shooting of a Palestinian boy by an Israeli soldier as lawful, even though the boy was running away. Mohammad was the third of Fatmeh and Sami al-Kasbeh's sons to have been shot and killed by Israeli soldiers. Although they have become familiar with investigations resulting in exoneration, the loss of their children remains a serious hardship for them. The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem announced that it would no longer refer complaints for military investigation, calling them a “whitewash”.
In 2011, Human Rights Watch found evidence in Tripoli, Libya, that UK authorities were involved in the 2004 rendition of two Libyan dissidents and their families back to Libya, despite knowing that the two men risked being tortured. They were indeed tortured, and an announcement today made clear that no one will face criminal charges for involvement in the ordeal.
The United Nations is accusing the Eritrean government of crimes against humanity. A new inquiry found evidence of torture, rape, and murder, and recommends that the international community strive toward a referral of the Eritrean leaders to the International Criminal Court to face accountability.
Good news from Turkmenistan, as the government has lifted a travel ban against three family members of an exiled dissident, allowing the family to be together for the first time in 13 years. Their ordeal, however, is unfortunately common as the government has used travel bans against thousands of people as an intimidation tactic.
Kazakhstan is once again facing heavy criticism over its treatment of workers. The International Labor Organization says that the government is not meeting the international standard for freedom of association under its repressive labor union law.
From earlier today: Unaccompanied migrant children in Sweden face difficulties in getting critical care and support, Human Rights Watch said in a new report today. Sweden has seen an unprecedented increase in the number of children arriving solo, but should do more to help them swiftly process their asylum claims.