Criminalised

• Vietnam has been rated as having a "closed" civic space due to systematic state efforts to silence human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers, and religious actors. • Authorities are utilizing national security laws to jail activists and book publishers, while reports indicate the use of torture, ill-treatment in detention, and restrictions on freedom of movement. • The situation has escalated with the implementation of a new retaliatory decree specifically targeting lawyers who provide legal support to these marginalized groups.

Boys physically overpowered and then filmed attacks on teenage victims in separate incidents in HampshireThree teenage boys convicted of knife-point rape and other serious sexual offences against two teenage girls in Hampshire have not been given custodial sentences because the judge said he “should avoid criminalising these children unnecessarily”.The boys, who were aged between 13 and 14 at the time of their offences, physically overpowered and sexually assaulted the girls, who were aged 14 and 15, in separate incidents two months apart. Continue reading...

Home affairs minister Tony Burke says listing will stop group from organising and meeting, and may prevent more ‘horrific bigoted rallies’The government has banned neo-nazi group, National Socialist Network, also known as White Australia, as prohibited hate group, under legislation passed in the wake of the Bondi terror attacks.The listing will mean that activities including supporting, funding, training, recruiting and joining the group will constitute a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Continue reading...