By Sami Zaptia.
London, 24 June 2020:
UNSMIL announced yesterday the launch of the and Human Rights Working Group on Libya. The launch comes as part of the Conclusions of the January 2020 Berlin Conference on Libya and under the International Follow-Up Committee on Libya (IFCL).
The IHL and Human Rights Working Group convened its first meeting (virtually) yesterday, bringing together representatives of countries that participated in the Berlin Conference, the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and the League of Arab States. The Netherlands and Switzerland co-chaired the Working Group.
During the meeting, UNSMIL reported, participants received a briefing on the terms of reference of the Working Group, discussed draft operational priorities, and shared their prospective contributions to promote IHL and human rights in Libya through the Working Group.
“I welcome the launch of this important Working Group and appreciate the strong participation of Member States and regional organizations as part of the Berlin process, which confirms that respect for international humanitarian and human rights law is essential for lasting peace in Libya,” Acting SRSG Stephanie Williams said. “As the UN Secretary-General has often repeated, there is neither peace nor development without human rights, and this is true also in Libya.”
The Working Group on IHL and Human Rights will meet regularly under the co-chairmanship of the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UNSMIL Human Rights, Transitional Justice and Rule of Law Office to support, promote, and coordinate implementation of the Berlin Conference Conclusions, UNSMIL reported.
https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/06/19/serious-violations-of-human-rights-and-humanitarian-law-continue-to-be-committed-with-complete-impunity-in-libya-unsmils-williams/
https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/06/15/attorney-generals-office-investigating-alleged-tarhuna-crimes-since-2017-in-contact-with-unsmil-and-icc/
https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/06/15/tripoli-government-blames-silence-of-international-community-for-alleged-war-crimes-committed-in-tarhuna/
https://www.libyaherald.com/2019/09/16/serraj-government-condemns-reported-tarhuna-mass-murder-by-pro-hafter-forces/
https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/06/15/un-secretary-general-guterres-deeply-shocked-by-multiple-mass-graves-in-libya/
https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/06/12/unsmil-welcomes-libyas-investigations-into-mass-graves-offers-its-help-u-s-also-offers-its-help/
https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/06/11/libyas-government-in-tripoli-reports-27-deaths-and-40-ied-injuries-forms-committee-to-investigate-unexplained-deaths-mass-graves-and-ieds-in-areas-previously-under-hafters/
