UN Mission Monitors "Serious Violations" of Human Rights in Libya

A United Nations (UN) investigation mission revealed the commission of “serious mass violations” of human rights in most parts of Libya against vulnerable groups of migrants, women, peaceful activists, and detainees.

The independent fact-finding mission said in its second report, which will be submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council today, that “the spread of a culture of impunity across the country may impede the ability of the people to transition to peace, democracy, and the rule of law.”

In its report, the mission referred to violations affecting the democratic transition, the integrity of the electoral process, intimidation and harassment of activists, attacks on the judiciary as a guarantor of human rights, as well as mass violations against vulnerable groups, such as migrants, women, peaceful activists, and detainees.

The mission is investigating reports of “violation of human rights in a number of prisons, whose closures have been announced,” but these prisons are still operating in secret.