UN Human Rights Council 48: UK statement for the interactive dialogue with the Fact Finding Mission on Libya
UK International Ambassador for Human Rights Rita French gave a statement calling on the Libyan government to support the mission by facilitating unrestricted and unfettered access throughout Libya.
Madam President,
We welcome the update from the Fact Finding Mission, and fully support the renewal of its mandate. We call on the Libyan government to support the mission by facilitating unrestricted and unfettered access throughout Libya. Notwithstanding welcome progress in Libya’s political process, we remain concerned about the overall human rights situation.
Journalists and activists are still being silenced and restrictions on civil society remain. The UK calls on Libyan authorities to act to protect journalists against violence and enable civil society to operate without undue restrictions. This is critical to enabling free, fair and inclusive elections.
Migrants and refugees in official and unofficial detention centres continue to face arbitrary and indefinite detention. The absence of security, rule of law and basic services continues to have a disproportionate impact on women and girls.
The Libyan authorities must make progress towards reforming the security and justice sector, end arbitrary detention, address sexual and gender-based violence, and fully cooperate with the Fact Finding Mission in its work investigating human rights violations and abuses, including in Tarhuna where authorities continue to uncover mass graves.
We reiterate our condemnation of all human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law. There must now be a process of national reconciliation and accountability.
Mr Auajjar, what can the international community do to support the implementation of your mandate in Libya?
Thank you