Libya: Crimes against humanity committed since 2016 – legal investigation

In the case of the State security forces, human rights violations are committed to suppress the opposition and exploit vulnerable migrants, without justice in sight, according to a new report, from the Freedom Fact-Finding Center (FFM ) on Libya.

It documents the “widespread practice” of arbitrary detention, murder, torture, rape, enslavement and rape in the country. In addition, the Post reported for the first time that sexual assault had been committed against immigrants.

“There you are There is an urgent need for accountability to end this horrific torture,” said Mohamed Auajjar, president of the Mission. “We invite the Libyan authorities to develop a human rights program and a comprehensive, victim-centered approach to justice without delay, and hold accountable all those responsible for human rights violations.”

Libya has been in turmoil since the ouster of former longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi, with the country divided between rival administrations and warring forces, with the UN-adopted National Government It is based in Tripoli, the capital and the forces of General Khalifa Haftar’s. -called the Libyan National Army which has influence in the eastern and southern regions of the oil-rich country.

There is no calculation

The Mission which has reported since 2016, noted that Accountability for crimes was criticizedlike most of the rest very fearful and ignorant of the justice system to officially report abuse. As a result, the crimes continued “unabated”, the Mission said.

According to your order come to the end of next weekThe mission called for the creation of new rights monitoring and investigation procedures, to “support Libyan reconciliation efforts” and help the authorities achieve “justice change and accountability.”

Abuse of immigrants

The report notes that more than 670,000 migrants from more than 41 countries are in Libya in the period from July 2022, when the mandate of the mission was extended, until March of this year.

The mission interviewed more than 100 migrants during its investigations and its report points to “Complete” evidence of systematic torture and sexual slavery, among others hard.

Detention centers in which migrants are held are “under the actual or partial control” of authorities, including the Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration and the Libyan Coast Guard.

“Acceptance” Exploitation of immigrants is a profitable businessThe Ministry said, “rape, slavery, forced labor, imprisonment, slavery and exploitation generate more income for individuals, groups and government agencies.”

Abuse in custody

Detention-related violations were also found to affect Libyans on a large scale, and the Mission pointed to the responsibility of State authorities and their leadership.

The report notes that The victims “come from all parts of Libyan society and include childrensenior men and women, human rights defenders, political actors, civil society representatives, members of the military or security forces, legal experts and people who have the same or different sex and gender identity.”

Most of those interviewed by the Mission were held without charge in appalling conditions,”always subjected to torture, solitary confinement, and indifference” and has no access to water, food and other essentials.

Children walk past damaged buildings in Benghazi, Libya.

Women’s rights are going in the opposite direction

According to the Mission, the situation of women in Libya has only gotten worse in the last three yearsin the context of the “weakness of Government institutions” amid the rising power of armed groups.

Newspapers “Systematic” discrimination against women, increase in domestic violencewhich is not punished by any comprehensive law, and the lack of accountability for crimes against prominent female leaders, such as suppress the influence of member of parliament Sihem Sergiwa Almost four years ago, and the killing of Hannan Barassi in 2020.

The mission also made its call to the authorities in Benghazi, where two major crimes took place, to “examine” them thoroughly and bring the culprits to justice.

Research process is still needed

Established by the Human Rights Council in 2020 to investigate human rights violations by all parties since the beginning of 2016, the mandate of the mission expired on April 4, at a time when “the human rights situation in Libya is deterioratingSimilar State authorities are emerging and the legislative, executive and security sector reforms needed to uphold the rule of law and the unity of the country are far from being known,” the report said.

That’s right, the Mission calls on the Human Rights Council to develop a “fully resourced, independent international investigative process,” and on the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to create another mechanism “with an ongoing mandate to monitor and report on human rights violations in Libya.”

Violators should be out

Among other recommendations, the report Calls on the international community to “stop all direct and indirect support to Libyan actors involved in crimes against humanity and gross human rights violations against migrantssuch as the Directorates for Combating Illegal Migration, the Stability Support Facility and the Libyan Coast Guard.”

The mission also said it would share its findings with the International Criminal Courtincluding a list of “possible perpetrators” of international crimes.

The Human Rights Council of the United Nations has appointed human rights experts as members of the Mission who work on a voluntary and paid basis, are not UN employees, and work independently of any government or organization.

Political end

Following a UN-brokered resolution in October 2020, elections were supposed to take place in December 2021, but were postponed.

Last month, Abdoulaye Bathily, Special Envoy for Libya and head of the UN mission in the country (UNSMIL) announced for a Security Council. new initiative focusing to facilitate the retention of Presidential and legislative elections before the end of the year.

Speaking about the need for reconciliation in Libya, Mr. Bathily said at the time, “Mediation is a long-term process that should be committed, victim-centered, rights-based and based on principles of transitional justice.”