“The Libyan government, armed groups, smugglers and traffickers should not assume that the eyes of the international community have now left Libya,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Volker Türk speak.
“That is it is important that we redouble our efforts to ensure accountability for past violations and continue to monitor the facts in place to prevent future violations‘ he said, echoing the call to action put forth by the meeting that just ended Independent Fact-finding Mission (FFM) on Libya.
Oil-rich Libya has been in turmoil since former leader Muammar Gaddafi was ousted for decades, which has seen rival governments and militias compete for battle. to fill the power vacuum. The United Nations-recognized National Accord government is based in the capital, Tripoli, and forces known as the Libyan National Army of General Khalifa Haftar control much of the eastern and southern regions.
Calling for a new mechanism
In its finals reportFFM recommends that the UN Human Rights Office establish a separate and autonomous mechanism with a constant quest to monitor and report on serious human rights violations in Libya, aim support Libyan reconciliation effortsand support the Libyan authorities in achieving Transitional justice and accountability.
Addressing the Council on Monday, FFM president Mohamed Auajjar shared the gritty details, findings and recommendations contained in his report.
“The The situation in Libya is still very critical” he say. “The violations continue unabated, and fundamental freedoms and the human rights situation has deteriorated.”
Violence is widespread
After proceeding more 400 interviewscollect more 2,800 items of informationand carried out 13 missions, including Tripoli and Banghazi, as well as countries including Italy, Rwanda, Malta and the Netherlands, the Mission found reasonable basis believe crimes against humanity have been committed against Libyans and migrants across Libya amid deprivation of freedom since 2016.
The results confirm the common practice of arbitrary detention, murder, torture, rape, enslavement, sex slavery, and forced disappearancehe say.
‘Crime continues’
“The the rapid, profound and continuous absorption of armed groups and their leadership over State-affiliated structures and institutions is of considerable concern,” warned Mr. Auajjar.
“We regret that these crimes continue to be committed to this day” he added.
High Commissioner Türk stressed that his Office will intensify work in Libya, where the human rights situation continues to deteriorate amid widespread violence by armed actorshappenning political deadlockand strengthen curbs on civilian spaces.
A 14-year-old migrant boy from Niger puts his hand on the gate inside a detention center in Libya.
Repression of civil society
Fosterbrother deep concern via intensifying repression of civil societymost recently passed a government decree declaring all national and international civil society organizations registered after 2011 to be illegal.
“regulations about civil society must respect the fundamental right to freedom of assembly and associations, do not stifle and criminalize the work of those working for a rights-based future for Libya,” he said.
He also emphasized the the importance of holding national elections and towards lasting peace.
