International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2026
| Ref: PRS 2026/06/1056 | June 26, 2026 |
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2026
Torture in Libya Continues Under Official and Parallel Institutions Amid Total Impunity
“Torturers must never be allowed to get away with their crimes, and systems that enable torture should be dismantled or transformed”, UNSG António Guterres.
Torture is a crime under international law. It is absolutely prohibited under all relevant instruments and cannot be justified under any circumstances. This prohibition is part of customary international law, binding on all states regardless of treaty ratification. When torture is practiced systematically or on a widespread scale, it constitutes a crime against humanity.
Torture aims to destroy the victim’s personality and negate the inherent dignity of the human being. The United Nations has condemned torture from its earliest days as one of the vilest acts committed by human beings against one another.
On 12 December 1997, through Resolution 52/149, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 26 June as the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, reaffirming the goal of the total eradication of torture and the effective implementation of the Convention Against Torture.
Libya is a State Party to the Convention. It has domestic legislation criminalizing torture. Yet, because of the proliferation of weapons, the dominance of armed groups, political fragmentation, and, above all, near‑total impunity, torture remains widespread in Libya’s prisons and detention centers run by official bodies, parallel institutions, militias aligned with the Government of National Unity, militias aligned with the House of Representatives and Khalifa Haftar, and human‑trafficking networks.
2026: A Year Marked by Judicial Collapse and Protection of Perpetrators
- The Acquittal of Abdullah al‑Senussi and 30 Former Regime Officials
On 18 May 2026, the Tripoli Court of Appeal (Thirteenth Criminal Circuit) acquitted former intelligence chief Abdullah al‑Senussi and 30 other senior officials of the Gaddafi regime in Case No. 630/2012, related to the violent suppression of demonstrators during the February 17, 2011-revolution.
This ruling came despite overwhelming evidence, including:
- video recordings of torture,
- mass graves,
- hundreds of witness statements,
- and official documents.
Al‑Senussi is indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Libya insisted on trying him domestically, and the ICC deferred to Libya’s request. The outcome is a complete miscarriage of justice and a devastating blow to victims and their families.
This verdict confirms what LHRS has warned for years: “the Libyan justice system is unable, or unwilling, to prosecute powerful perpetrators of grave violations”.
- The Case of Osama Elmasry Njeem: Shielding an ICC‑Wanted Torturer
On 22 June 2026, the Office of the General Prosecutor announced a seven‑year sentence against Osama Elmasry Njeem, a senior security figure accused of torture, enforced disappearance, and other grave violations. Njeem is also wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Mitiga Prison since 2015.
The Libyan prosecution:
- released no details about the charges,
- ignored the ICC’s extensive case file,
- failed to address allegations of murder, rape, and systematic torture,
- and provided no transparency regarding the proceedings.
This opaque process raises serious concerns that the sentence is intended to shield Njeem from international accountability, not to deliver justice.
- Torture Continues in Official and Parallel Institutions
LHRS continues to document:
- torture in prisons under the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice,
- torture in facilities run by armed groups (including RADA, LAAF‑affiliated units, and western militias),
- enforced disappearances,
- sexual violence,
- deaths under torture,
- denial of medical care,
- and secret detention sites.
Victims and families face intimidation, retaliation, and silence.
Impunity: The Central Driver of Torture in Libya
The persistence of torture in Libya is rooted in:
- the failure of judicial authorities to prosecute perpetrators,
- the political protection granted to armed groups,
- the integration of militia leaders into state structures,
- and the deliberate obstruction of accountability mechanisms.
When perpetrators are rewarded with official positions, budgets, and political cover, torture becomes not an aberration but a state‑enabled practice.
LHRS Calls for Immediate Action
To the Libyan Authorities
- End the use of torture in all detention facilities.
- Close all unofficial detention centers.
- Ensure independent investigations into all allegations.
- Hold commanders accountable under international humanitarian law.
- Cooperate fully with the ICC, including surrendering suspects.
- Allow UN bodies and human‑rights organizations full access to detention sites.
- Protect victims, witnesses, and human‑rights defenders.
To the International Community
- Press Libya to uphold its obligations under the Convention Against Torture.
- Support independent monitoring of detention facilities.
- Ensure accountability for ICC‑wanted suspects.
- Condition security assistance on human‑rights compliance.
- Support Libyan civil society organizations documenting torture.
A Commitment to Victims
On this day, LHRS honors the courage of survivors and the memory of those who died under torture. Torture is a crime that cannot be justified, excused, or ignored.
Justice delayed is justice denied — and in Libya, justice has been denied for far too long.
LHRS will continue to document violations, support victims, and advocate for accountability until torture in Libya ends.
Human Rights Solidarity Organization
Tripoli, Libya
June 26, 2026
References:
- United Nations General Assembly (1997), Resolution 52/149: United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, New York, United Nations.
- United Nations (2024–2026), UN Information on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
- Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984), United Nations Treaty Series.
- International Criminal Court (ICC) (2025), Warrant of Arrest for Osama Elmasry Njeem – Situation in Libya, Pre‑Trial Chamber I, ICC.
- Libya Al‑Ahrar TV (18 May 2026), Report on the acquittal of Abdullah al‑Senussi and former regime officials in Case No. 630/2012.
- Office of the General Prosecutor – Libya (22 June 2026), Statement on the sentencing of Osama Elmasry Njeem for torture of detainees.
- United Nations Security Council (2011), Resolution 1970 (Referral of the Situation in Libya to the ICC).
- UN Human Rights Council (2023–2024), Reports of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on arbitrary detention, torture, and enforced disappearance in Libya.
- Independent Fact‑Finding Mission on Libya (2021–2023), Reports submitted to the UN Human Rights Council documenting systematic torture and crimes against humanity.
- Human Rights Watch (2023–2025), Reports on torture, arbitrary detention, and militia abuses in Libya.
- Amnesty International (2023–2025), Reports on torture and ill‑treatment in Libyan detention facilities.
- Human Rights Solidarity (LHRS) (2021–2025), Annual statements and reports marking the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
