Tripoli, 17 February 2013:
Lawyers for Justice in Libya (LFJL) . . .[restrict]has congratulated all Libyans on today’s historic anniversary, and says it is looking forward to another year of democratic transition, and the drafting of Libya’s new constitution.
“The constitution will be the most important document in not only addressing the past legacy of human rights abuses, but also protecting the rights of Libyans from future abuses,” said LFJL.
“As we Libyans prepare to write our constitution and decide our future, LFJL hopes the constitution will protect the fundamental rights of all individuals, disenfranchised groups, and women,” said Elham Saudi, director of LFJL. The NGO, which promotes justice and human rights in the country, called on the authorities to ensure that the constitution-making process was fair, transparent, and inclusive of all Libyan people.
LFJL said that the 17 February Revolution was the result of numerous human rights grievances accumulated over forty-two years of brutal dictatorial rule. However, it pointed out that human rights abuses, and a lack of accountability for perpetrators, had continued since the revolution.
“Ongoing violations, including the widespread use of torture and extrajudicial killings, the destruction of religious and historical sites, the displacement and collective punishment of minorities, and the lack of governmental accountability, all threaten Libya’s development into a state which respects and protects human rights,” Saudi said. She added that this went against the basic principles on which the revolution was founded.
Saudi said that the way to honour the revolution was to address the causes of violations of human rights and hold perpetrators accountable, ensuring justice for all and impunity for none. [/restrict]
