Human Rights Watch Daily Brief, 13 April 2016

In the United States, inadequate drug treatment in and out of prison results in many prisoners continuing to use drugs behind bars. Harsh punishment for drug use coupled with a lack of medical care puts many prisoners at unnecessary risk. A court in China has dismissed the country's first ever same-sex marriage case. When a gay couple successfully petitioned a court in January to first hear the case, it was hailed as a victory and sign of hope by activists who vow to continue to advance LGBT rights in China. Another misleading investigation in Burundi has glossed over widespread state abuses, this time extrajudicial executions by security forces in December 2015. Ignoring the killings of Bujumbura residents, the inquiry concluded that all those killed were "combatants," despite research saying otherwise. Until Burundi begins conducting proper investigations, justice for state abuses is likely to remain elusive. In Chechnya, the message is simple: Keep your mouth shut except to exhibit your utmost devotion. As Chechen law enforcement abducts critics for speaking out, Russia's continued support of the Chechen government remains a signal that it won't get in the way. From earlier today: Military courts have tried at least 7,400 Egyptian civilians since October 2014, new research shows. The Egyptian Coordination for Rights and Freedoms, an independent human rights group, has exposed the extent to which President al-Sisi’s government has used the military justice system to expedite its harsh crackdown on opponents. There are new fears for the fate of thousands of refugee children who have gone missing in Germany, with authorities worried they may have fallen victim to organised crime or human trafficking.