{"id":8812,"date":"2026-06-21T01:00:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T23:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hrsly.com\/?p=8812"},"modified":"2026-06-21T01:00:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T23:00:56","slug":"human-rights-solidarity-statement-on-the-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-sexual-violence-in-conflict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hrsly.com\/en\/human-rights-solidarity-statement-on-the-international-day-for-the-elimination-of-sexual-violence-in-conflict\/","title":{"rendered":"Human Rights Solidarity Statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Ref: PRS 2026\/06\/1050<\/td>June 19, 2026<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Human Rights Solidarity Statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Human Rights Solidarity (LHRS) marks the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict by warning that Libya continues to face alarming and entrenched patterns of conflict\u2011related sexual violence (CRSV). These violations persist in a context defined by the collapse of state institutions, the dominance of armed groups, and a justice system unable\u2014or unwilling\u2014to hold perpetrators accountable. Fifteen years after the fall of the former regime, the legacy of using sexual violence as a weapon of war continues to shape the present, fueling cycles of abuse and deepening the suffering of survivors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sexual violence first emerged as a defining feature of the Libyan conflict during the early days of the 2011 uprising, when security brigades loyal to Muammar Gaddafi used extreme force to suppress popular demonstrations. Although the exact scale of these crimes remains contested, consistent reports from survivors, humanitarian organizations, and UN entities indicated that rape was part of the regime\u2019s \u201carsenal\u201d of tools used to terrorize and punish. As Margot Wallstr\u00f6m, the UN Secretary\u2011General\u2019s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict at the time, stated, the information gathered by her office pointed to sexual violence being systematically employed, not as isolated incidents but as part of a broader policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a conservative society where, sexual violence carries profound stigma, early allegations triggered shock and outrage. Dr. Cherif Bassiouni, Chair of the International Commission of Inquiry on Libya, described the atmosphere as \u201cmass hysteria,\u201d reflecting both the gravity of the allegations and the social taboo surrounding them. The regime\u2019s use of rape as a weapon of war left a deep psychological scar on Libyan society\u2014one that continues to influence patterns of violence today. Even Gaddafi himself was subjected to sexual violence upon his capture in October 2011, underscoring the extent to which such abuses had become embedded in the dynamics of conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The end of the regime did not bring an end to these crimes. Instead, sexual violence has persisted and, in some contexts, expanded. LHRS has documented testimonies from men, women, and children who suffered sexual assault and harassment in detention facilities across the country. From Gernada, al\u2011Kuweifiya, and the Military Police prison in Benghazi, to Mitiga and al\u2011Jawiya prisons in western Libya, survivors consistently describe environments where sexual violence is used to punish, intimidate, and degrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2026, UN reports confirm that CRSV remains widespread in both official and unofficial detention centers, including rape, forced nudity, sexual assault, extortion, and trafficking. Migrant women and girls remain among the most vulnerable, facing systematic exploitation and sale to transnational criminal networks. Meanwhile, developments in international justice have been mixed: the ICC\u2019s case against Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri represents a historic step toward accountability, while Italy\u2019s release of Osama Najim\u2014despite an ICC arrest warrant\u2014constitutes a serious setback and a troubling signal to survivors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The persistence of sexual violence in Libya is not accidental. It is the result of structural impunity, political fragmentation, and the normalization of armed group control. Without decisive action, these crimes will continue to devastate lives and undermine prospects for peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LHRS calls on the Libyan authorities to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n