FFM: Call for submissions
Deadline: As soon as possible but no later than 31 January 2022
The Independent Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) on Libya is an independent and impartial body established by the Human Rights Council through Resolution 43/39 of 22 June 2020, with the following core mandate:
“To establish the facts and circumstances of the situation of human rights throughout Libya, and to collect and review relevant information, to document alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by all parties in Libya since the beginning of 2016, including any gendered dimensions of such violations and abuses, and to preserve evidence with a view to ensuring that perpetrators of violations or abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law are held accountable” (para. 43 (a)).
On 11 October 2021, the Human Rights Council extended the mandate of the FFM for nine months to allow for the implementation of its mandate (Resolution 48/25). In this connection, the FFM on Libya renews its invitation to individuals, groups and organizations to submit new or complementary information and documentation relevant to the FFM’s mandate in relation to all acts of violence in Libya, particularly those that may constitute violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law that have been committed, in particular against civilians, including specifically against women and children.
These violations and abuses of interest include but are not limited to: unlawful and arbitrary detentions; abductions and enforced disappearances; torture and cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment; unlawful killings, including extrajudicial executions; trafficking and smuggling, including modern slavery; and alleged attacks, intimidation or harassment of and violence against members of the judiciary and members of civil society, including human rights defenders, activists, journalists and media workers.
The FFM would also welcome information related to sexual and gender-based violence, grave violations of children’s rights, harsh conditions in prisons and detention centres, human rights violations and abuses committed against migrants (including in detention centres), as well as to the situation of internally displaced persons and other disadvantaged/vulnerable groups, including minorities. The FFM would also be interested in receiving information on violations of social and economic rights, including on the rights to health and education in relation to the conflict as well as on illegal financing of alleged perpetrators and the illicit flow of arms used to commit violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
Information on efforts made to restore and consolidate the rule of law throughout Libya, the role of transitional justice, as well as any challenges in this regard, would be also welcomed.
The FFM invites individuals, groups and organizations to use the specific available template to submit relevant information and documentation, in Arabic or English. The FFM places utmost importance to the protection of sources, notably concerning the respect for confidentiality and the ‘do no harm’ principle (not to jeopardize the life, safety, freedom and well-being of victims, witnesses and other cooperating persons). Revealing the identity of cooperating persons and the use of the information provided by them will be strictly subject to their informed consent.
Furthermore, the FFM takes all possible measures to ensure protection of information, including through the use of appropriate information communication technologies (ICT). In order to preserve the security and confidentiality of the information submitted, it is recommended to submit through the secure cloud created by the FFM for this purpose. Please upload the template to the cloud and submit any relevant evidence with a name associated to your submission. For instance, “Submission of NGO X – photo # 1”; “Submission of NGO Y – video # 1” In case of technical problems in uploading the file, please contact the FFM at [email protected].
Please note that the FFM will prioritise review of information provided through the template. It should be noted that not all information sent to the FFM will necessarily be reflected in the final report. In particular, cases alleging violations falling outside the mandate of the FFM will not be considered. Please note that individual acknowledgements of receipt of information will not be sent to the author(s).
You are invited to submit your information as soon as possible, but no later than 31 January 2022.
Should you have any questions, please contact the FFM at [email protected].