Investigate Russia's Shopping Center Strike: Daily Brief

A Russian missile directly hit an open and busy civilian shopping center on June 27 in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, causing devastating loss of civilian life. While a Russian Defense Ministry official claimed that Ukrainian authorities stored weapons in the industrial complex, Human Rights Watch could not identify any evidence to indicate the industrial complex was storing munitions. Considering concerns that this attack on civilians may be unlawful, indiscriminate, and disproportionate, there needs to be a thorough investigation, and those responsible should be held to account.

Following reports of deaths of at least 23 migrants at the Melilla border between Europe and Northern Africa, 51 people have now been reported dead in Texas. They died of heat exhaustion in the back of an abandoned truck in south Texas while migrating to the United States. In both events, authorities blamed smugglers and "mafias", avoiding questions about their disastrous restrictive border policies. US lawmakers should immediately restore access to asylum at the border and create more safe, legal, and dignified pathways to migrate.

In a sweeping display of violence against LGBT activism and freedom of expression, on June 26, Turkish authorities cracked down on the Istanbul Pride March. After local officials banned the march, Turkish police arrested three times more people than the total arrested during the previous seven Istanbul Pride marches combined, including journalists reporting on the event. The crackdown at this month’s Pride events follow a series of efforts by Turkish officials to undermine LGBT rights activism. “While LGBT rights activists have demonstrated incredible courage and tenacity in the face of government brutality, they should not have to risk their well-being to exercise their fundamental rights,” said Kyle Knight senior LGBT rights researcher at Human Rights Watch.

Tomorrow marks the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s transfer of sovereignty from British to Chinese rule - and if anything this anniversary, in the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping, highlights Beijing's continuing repression of Hong Kong. To name just a few of the recent restrictions, Beijing imposed a draconian National Security Law on the city, put top pro-democracy leaders behind bars, and dismantled the city’s free press and civil society. The rest of the world should refrain from supporting this event, and show support for Hong Kong people’s steadfast struggle for human rights.

For the last eight months Sudan's street protesters have continued to find ways to express resistance to the October 2021 military coup and ongoing repression. Human Rights Watch has launched a video series that expresses solidarity with their struggle for a fairer future. Since the coup, security forces have responded violently to the peaceful protests killing 102 people during protests, including 15 children, and detained hundreds, often targeting those active or perceived to be active within the resistance committees or social movements. Today's video focuses on the story of Sit- alNfor Ahmed, one of the protesters killed.

It is extremely dangerous to be a human rights defender in Honduras. In 2021, according to the UN, at least 10 human rights defenders were killed and 199 human rights defenders were harassed, threatened, or attacked - 80 percent of whom were defending land rights or the environment. However, there is an estimated 90 percent impunity rate for crimes against human rights defenders in Honduras. It's time for authorities to act, to protect indigenous land and leaders. 

In Iran, the government sent five human rights defenders to prison for attempting to hold the government accountable for its mismanagement of the Covid-19 crisis. Iran has been hit hard by Covid-19, with more than 140,000 deaths, and yet the government response lacked transparency. Instead of protecting the state from scrutiny, Iranian authorities  should ensure that human rights defenders are able to carry out their peaceful activities without fear of state reprisal.