Beirut Blast Needs Impartial Probe: Daily Brief

Independent investigation needed for Beirut blast; repression in Zimbabwe; protecting rights defenders in Liberia; Philippines may get death penalty back; Cambodian authorities should stop harassing detainees' family members; students expelled over Papua protest, Indonesia; ending agency abuses in Pakistan; Covid-19’s devastating impact on older people in Australia; activists arrested for "insulting monuments" in Poland; Bolivia should recognize same-sex unions; and historic news on reducing child labor.
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The unprecedented explosion in Beirut demands an independent investigation with international experts to best guarantee that victims will get the justice they deserve.

The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union should urgently and publicly speak out against the Zimbabwe government’s crackdown on peaceful anti-corruption protests.

Nine human rights organizations have jointly expressed concern over recent credible threats against rights defenders in Liberia.

The Philippines is considering bringing back the death penalty...

The Cambodian authorities should stop harassing and forcibly dispersing family members protesting the detention of opposition political activists.

Indonesia’s public Khairun University on Ternate Island should reinstate four students who were expelled after taking part in a peaceful protest.

Pakistani authorities should follow up a recent Supreme Court decision and cease using the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to detain critics of the government.

On August 10, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety will hold a hearing on “lessons learnt” on Covid-19 in aged care in Australia.

Activists in Poland have been arrested for "insulting monuments" and "insulting religious feelings."

The national civil registry (Registro de Servicio Cívico, SERECÍ) of Bolivia should comply with a court ruling to register a same-sex couple’s relationship as a “free union.”

And finally, we end on some good news about the international effort to reduce child labor.

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