Release Human Rights Lawyers in China: Daily Brief

Release human rights lawyers in China; EU should press China to release rights defenders; clothing brands to step up for women's safety; need for accountability in Liberia; children shouldn't be detained; Burundi law violates children's rights; victims of US strike in Syria deserve an explanation; Human Rights Council protects civil society.

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The Chinese government should immediately release human rights lawyers who have been arbitrarily held since a nationwide crackdown began in July 2015. While most were released within weeks, at least one has been forcibly disappeared and four others have received long prison sentences. Authorities continue to harass, surveil, and deny licenses to other rights lawyers.

The European Union can play an important role to secure the release of human rights defenders in China. European leaders should use the 20th European Union (EU)-China Summit, which will be held in mid-July in Beijing, to publicly raise concerns about the grave human rights situation in the country and engage their Chinese counterparts to make meaningful improvements, starting with the release of unjustly jailed human rights defenders. Join Amnesty and HRW's campaign to call on EU leaders to make this their top priority.

One area in which women everywhere face discrimination, inequality, harassment or violence in their everyday lives is in their workplace. Globally, the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements have forced many companies to revisit their gender pay gap and anti-harassment policies. Given the momentum, clothing brands need to step up and keep women safe in their factories.

The Liberian government should seek justice for international crimes committed during its two civil wars. A submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee by 76 Liberian, African, and international NGOs focuses on accountability and asks for fair and credible prosecutions of those responsible for grave violations of international law. Up to now, not one person has been prosecuted for past violations in the country...

Amnesty International is calling for a “zero-tolerance” on child migration detention. The Global Compact on Migration (GCM), an intergovernmental agreement designed to negotiate international migration, is reaching its final stage of negotiations next week. World leaders have the chance to include a written commitment to stop detention of children for migration-related reasons. 

Every year, thousands of girls in Africa are shamed for becoming pregnant. Burundi has now added further discrimination towards girls and teen fathers. A new directive was issued last week from the ministry of education banning pregnant teens and young mothers from attending school. 

After months of denial, the US-led coalition in Syria has now recognized they are responsible for the death of dozens of civilians on a strike to a boarding school in Mansourah, near Raqqa, Syria, on March 20, 2017. However, a statement admitting to it is insufficient. Victims deserve a real explanation

The UN Human Rights Council has approved a resolution to protect civil society space worldwide. This is vital at a time where many civil society groups and organizations are facing harassment and government laws limiting their freedom... 

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