France and UK both to blame after tragedy in the Channel; repression à la marocaine against an independent journalist; an opportunity to protect communities from European toxic plastic waste; latest Houti attacks on civilians in Yemen; India right activist wrongfully arrested; and everyday life in authoritarian Belarus.

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In Europe, it looks like the Channel might become a new Mediterranean, as at least 27 people, including a young girl, died in the frigid waters off France this week while trying to cross to the United Kingdom in an inflatable dinghy. While British and French officials played the blame game, civil society groups in France and the UK held vigils in remembrance for those who died and highlighted the shared responsibility of both governments. Their deterrence strategy has proven once more to be ineffective and deadly; both sides should provide shelter and regular routes for migrants to seek safe haven or reunify with family members.

The Moroccan government is trying to silence one of the country's last critical voices with a flawed trial and dubious charges. After years of police harassment and a marred trial, Omar Radi, one of Morocco's leading investigative journalists, has been sentenced to six years in prison on espionage and rape charges. Such crimes deserve serious investigations and fair proceedings, rather than being used to lock away a dissident reporting on state corruption. The court of appeal is the last hope to see justice delivered.

EU governments ship their plastic waste to countries where it is dumped or burned, exposing communities to toxic chemicals. The consequences for human rights can be disastrous. Last week, the European Commission proposed new rules governing waste shipments from EU countries. The regulation could be good news for communities around the world impacted by European plastic waste exports.

In Yemen, Houthi forces have fired artillery and ballistic missiles indiscriminately into populated areas of the Marib governorate, resulting in civilian casualties, including women and children, and causing a new wave of civilian displacement since September. With winter coming, it's more urgent than ever for Houthis to immediately end their indiscriminate attacks and allow humanitarian access to civilians. Their unspeakable suffering has to stop.

Six human rights groups are calling for India's international partners to speak out against the government's crackdown on civil society groups, human rights activists and the media, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. A few days ago, authorities have raided the home and office of a prominent Kashmiri human rights activist, Khurram Parvez, and then detained him under the abusive counterterrorism law, which is increasingly used to silence opposition. If India's partners don't act, the authorities will feel emboldened to take further repressive measures.

One may think that, in Belarus, if you’re not an activist, a journalist, or a migrant, you can go about your life unaffected by the crackdown on civil society. Wrong: workers in the tourist sector, teachers, and other residents of Hrodna spoke to Human Rights Watch of their “destroyed” livelihood