Human Rights Solidarity urges Human Rights Council to establish an International Commission of Inquiry to investigate Grave Human Rights Violations in Libya
In a statement[1] delivered today by Mr. Khalid Saleh, Human Rights Researcher at Human Rights Solidarity (HRS), before the Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, called for the establishment of an International Commission of Inquiry to investigate the grave human rights violations in Libya. The statement of HRS came during the presentation and discussion of the report[2] of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on the “Situation of Human Rights in Libya”, in the 40th regular session of HRC.
While welcoming the report of the OHCHR, and urging the Human Rights Council to adopt and support the recommendations of the report, especially the call to provide the International Criminal Court (ICC) with the resources and protection necessary to investigate the alleged crimes under its jurisdiction, and prosecute and try the perpetrators, HRS expressed lack of confidence in the ability of the Government of National Accord to conduct independent, impartial, thorough and transparent investigations, as stated in the recommendations of the High Commissioner addressed to the Libyan Government[3]. HRS stated that its reservation is due to the existence of indicators and evidence that “all parties to the conflict in Libya, including the Government of National Accord, are involved, and some directly, in these violations, some of which amount to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity.”
HRS statement included a call to the Human Rights Council to refer the names of all individuals responsible for serious violations, as identified by the commission, to the Security Council for listing under current sanctions regime of the Security Council and to refer the findings of the investigations to the Office of General Prosecutor of the ICC to support its work on Libya.
[1] The statement was presented by Mr, Khaled Saleh on behalf of the International Institute for Rights and Development- Geneva (IRDG) & Human Rights Solidarity (HRS).
[2] Human Rights Council, Fortieth Session: “Situation of human rights in Libya, including the implementation of technical assistance and capacity-building and efforts to prevent and ensure accountability for violations and abuses of human rights”, 4th February 2019.
[3] Recommendation (80-C): “The High Commissioner recommends that the Government of Libya to conduct prompt, independent, impartial, thorough and transparent investigations into serious violations of international humanitarian law and violations or abuses of international human rights law, ensuring appropriate care and protection of victims as well as accountability for those responsible, in accordance with the law and in full compliance with due process and fair trial standards.”
