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By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 28 September 2016:
Both UN Special Envoy Martin Kobler and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein have called for the appointment of an independent expert, to report on the situation of human rights in Libya and on progress made by the authorities towards accountability.
The calls were made at the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva yesterday.
UN deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Kate Gilmore, speaking on behalf of Al-Hussein, described the human rights situation in Libya as “depressing, with little hope of resolution in immediate sight”.
Perpetrators of abuses and violations were able to act with impunity, she said in the statement from Al-Hussein. “Victims believe for good reason that there are few prospects for justice.” Such perpetrators were nonetheless criminally liable, she added, calling for more resources for the International Criminal Court so that it could pursue them.
There also had to be a vetting process in Libya to ensure that those responsible for gross violations are unable to serve in any official capacity.
Backing the move, Kobler told the council that UNSMIL would fully cooperate with any new mechanism which would improve human rights protection and promotion in Libya.
Support for the High Commissioner’s views on ending impunity for violations and abuses has also come from UK ambassador Peter Millett.
