On the occasion of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (26 June 2025), Libya Crimes Watch (LCW) delivered a briefing on the state of torture in Libya during an international webinar organised by the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) in collaboration with the SOS-Torture Network, as part of the Global Week Against Torture. The event brought together dozens of human rights organisations from around the world.
In its briefing, LCW presented a concise overview of the ongoing reality of torture in Libya, grounded in its field documentation and monitoring. LCW stressed that torture is perpetrated in a systematic and widespread manner by security agencies and armed groups operating in both eastern and western parts of the country. LCW reported that in 2024 alone, it had documented over 100 cases of torture, including deaths caused by torture or medical neglect. These violations were often driven by revenge, coercion for confessions, or targeting based on political or ideological affiliation.
LCW also highlighted the heightened vulnerability of specific groups—particularly migrant women and girls—who face multiple forms of torture, including sexual violence and abuse, in the absence of legal protection or effective support mechanisms. LCW emphasised that these violations are taking place in a climate of widespread impunity, where international anti-torture frameworks remain underutilised, and civil society actors face increasing constraints that hinder their ability to operate.
LCW called attention to the urgent need for effective redress, alongside medical, psychological, and social support for survivors of torture. It urged the strengthening of protection frameworks, especially for migrants and other marginalised populations.
Ahmed Mustafa, Head of the Documentation Office at LCW, stated:
“Torture continues to be committed systematically and extensively in Libyan prisons and detention centres by security forces and armed groups, in the absence of a functioning judiciary that holds perpetrators accountable. LCW’s teams continue to document these egregious crimes, but the lack of comprehensive investigations and meaningful deterrents only reinforces a culture of impunity. This is further demonstrated by the authorities’ obstruction of access for international organisations and independent monitors to detention sites—mechanisms that are essential for exposing violations and advancing justice.”
LCW’s participation is part of its ongoing commitment to document human rights violations, advocate at the international level, elevate the voices of victims, and work towards breaking the cycle of impunity and achieving accountability in Libya.
For the full briefing:
