THIS IS WHY THE LIBYAN GOVERNMENTS ATTACK CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN LIBYA!
London, UK – March 22, 2023 – Libya Crimes Watch (LCW) releases its annual report titled “2022: Another Year of Injustice in Libya” The report details the human rights situation in Libya from January to December 2022 where LCW documents 561 alleged crimes committed against Libyan civilians and migrants across the country’s eastern, western, central, and southern regions.
LCW annual report for the year 2022 investigates allegations collected from victims and witnesses. These among the 561 cases include 231 violations committed against migrants at sea or on Libyan soil, 62 cases of unlawful abductions and arbitrary detention of Libyan activists, journalists, and civil actors, and 42 victims unlawfully killed under torture or in execution style. The report also highlights the ill-treatment and assault of 40 peaceful protestors, the killing of 34 civilians due to landmines or indiscriminate attacks, and the discovery of 91 dead bodies in mass graves.
LCW assert that the transition towards democracy and positive change necessitates considerable resources, concerted efforts, strategic planning, and efficient governance to address the aftermath of the Libyan war and to tackle the political and military challenges caused by the proliferation of arms, militia control, and the fragmentation of currently decentralized institutions. However, the Libyan government’s targeting of civil society actors, including activists, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, unions, and associations that document and report on violations and crimes against Libyan civilians and migrants, constitutes a serious impediment to the establishment of a Libyan state founded on the principles of the rule of law.
LCW has directed its recommendations to both political factions in Libya, the east and west, with the aim of addressing the prevalence of crimes committed by affiliated armed groups and security agencies. In its annual report, LCW calls for the immediate opening of transparent investigations into all alleged crimes documented and demands the disclosure of the whereabouts and status of all individuals who have been forcibly disappeared or abducted. LCW further demands the immediate release of those who are unlawfully detained, emphasizing the need for fair and just legal procedures that uphold the detainees’ privacy and dignity.
LCW underscores the need for the Libyan government to ensure that fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and association, are protected. It also urges the government to take immediate action to clear landmines, particularly in areas where civilian populations reside, and hold those responsible for indiscriminate attacks and extrajudicial killings accountable. LCW highlights the importance of accountability and justice in promoting and protecting human rights and the rule of law in Libya. The LCW Annual Report is available on its website at the following link:
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