Libya - Universal Periodic Review

UPR 36, November 11, 2020
Recommendations by Canada

Recommendations

Thank you, Madame President.

Canada welcomes Libya’s efforts to enact legislation to improve human rights, including the tracking and monitoring of human rights violations. However, Canada remains deeply concerned about the human rights, and overall, situation in Libya.

Canada recommends that Libya:

1. Take urgent and immediate action to ensure, including through full cooperation with the United Nations, that all parties to the conflict in Libya cease violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including attacks on civilians.
2. Take urgent and immediate steps to enhance the economic and social conditions of internally displaced persons in Libya, including food security and access to medical care.
3. Establish a comprehensive mechanism to monitor the location and legal status of detainees in Libya, and ensure that all detainees are provided with adequate care and rehabilitation.
4. Take urgent and immediate steps to address the plight of migrants, asylum seekers, refugees and trafficked human beings in Libya, ensuring full respect for their human rights, including preventing violence against women.

Overview

Canada remains deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Libya, including severe violations related to the ongoing conflict in Libya. The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) reports that 106 civilians were killed and 252 were injured from April 1 to June 30, 2020 due to the conflict. Since June 2020, the International Criminal Court (ICC) reported the discovery of mass graves in western Libya, which included the remains of men, women and children, and may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.

In July 2020, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) identified 425,714 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Libya who face food and employment insecurity, and limited access to health care including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There are numerous NGO reports that irregular migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, including women and children, face inhumane conditions including long term arbitrary detention, beatings, sexual violence, extortion, and forced labour.

Despite legislation safeguarding and promoting women’s rights, violence and discrimination against women is common in Libya. Human rights organizations note that Libyan women activists, politicians and journalists face gender-based violence and enforced disappearances at the hands of militias and armed groups in Libya, limiting their freedom of expression and hindering their public engagement.

Human rights organizations also note that Libyan prison authorities have held thousands of detainees, including women and children, in long-term arbitrary detention without charges.