Australia Should Press Indonesia Over Religious Intolerance: Daily Brief
Australia should press Indonesia over religious intolerance; Australian filmmaker convicted in Cambodia; steps to end "period poverty" in Scotland; elderly in Ukraine forced to move to get pensions; Russia slammed for Chechnya abuses; will kids with disabilities start school in Serbia?; and a human rights investigating "eye in the sky."
Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison is visiting Indonesia today on his first international trip as leader. In his meetings with Indonesian President Jokowi, Morrison should raise concerns about repression of religious minorities in Indonesia, where at least 22 people have been prosecuted under the blasphemy law since 2014.
Australian action is also needed in Cambodia, where Australian filmmaker James Ricketson has been sentenced to six years in prison on a bogus espionage charge for flying a drone over a rally held by the opposition party in Cambodia last June. The Australian government should demand Ricketson's immediate release.
No girl should struggle to manage her period with dignity. Scotland is leading the way to end “period poverty” by committing to provide free menstrual hygiene products at all schools and universities.
The Ukrainian government is demanding that older people in separatist areas abandon their homes to receive their pensions. This policy violates their rights and is imposing further hardships for older people, who are already among the most affected by the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
15 countries from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe have put Russia on the spot for abuses in Chechnya. Russia has now 10 days to respond the questions raised around the ongoing violations in the area.
The Serbian government formally pledged in June that all children with disabilities will be able to go to school. Monday is the first official school day... Will they keep their promise?
What is the new way to identify human rights abuses? Having eyes in the sky.