Notes

Notes - Actors & Events Throughout the "International Intervention in Libya" up until today

Dr. Seham Sergewa - Psychiatrist & the main spokesperson behind the allegations of rape.

US interests: Hillary Clinton (Secretary of State) - "Oh wow"; 'Said she was “deeply concerned” that Gaddafi’s troops were participating in widespread rape in Libya. “Rape, physical intimidation, sexual harassment, and even so-called virginity tests have taken place in countries throughout the region,” she said.'

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR): Filippo Grandi (UN High Commissioner for Refugees), Vincent Cochetel (Special Envoy for the Central Mediterranean Situation) - "who will be coordinating UNHCR’s cross-regional response to the complexities of mixed migration movements across the Mediterranean", Amin Awad (UNHCR’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa),

The International Criminal Court (ICC): Luis Moreno-Ocampo (ICC prosecutor) - 'told a press conference that “we have information that there was a policy to rape in Libya those who were against the government. Apparently he [Colonel Gaddafi] used it to punish people.”'. Fatou BensoudaThe international court’s prosecutor - "Ms. Bensouda said that Libya and the events surrounding the 2011 revolution would be a priority for her office in 2017."

Amnesty International: Donatella Rovera (Senior Crisis Response Officer at AI) - 'said to Patrick Cockburn in late June that “we have not found any evidence or a single victim of rape, or a doctor who knew about somebody being raped.” She stressed this does not prove that mass rape did not occur, but there is no evidence to show that it did.'

Human Rights Watch (Washington affiliated): Liesel Gerntholtz (Head of women’s rights at HRW) - 'which also investigated the charge of mass rape, said, “We have not been able to find evidence.”'.

The Government of National Accord (UN-Sponsored, controls most of western Libya): Leader - Fayez al-Sarraj

Libya’s Rada Deterrence Force: Led by charismatic commander, Abdulrauf Kara, it is Salafist in character, seeking to enforce Islamic codes banning drink and drugs, but is fiercely opposed to Isis, terrorist groups, and many rival militias.
Formed from militiamen who battled against Gaddafi in the 2011 Arab spring, it operates as a self-appointed police force, raiding drug gangs and migrant smugglers’ safe-houses and periodically skirmishing with rival militias.
More organised than other militias, it has a command structure and brings suspects before the courts, earning grudging respect from many Tripolitanians. It has won popular support by tackling the capital’s spate of kidnappings, staging raids to free hostages held by rival militias and posting video of the kidnappers’ confessions online.
Rada is formally linked to the interior ministry but, in practice, it runs its own operations, choosing when to cooperate with the UN-backed government which lacks any security force of its own. Critics complain Rada is not answerable to governing authorities, while supporters say it provides a semblance of law in a lawless city.
Kara styles himself as a political pragmatist, telling the New York Times last year that many Libyans might support the return of the monarchy, abolished by Gaddafi in 1969, as a “viable solution” if it brought order to the country’s chaos.

Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Libya (27 February - 24 March, 2017)

Conclusions and recommendations:

81. The findings of the present report are consistent with those described in
previous reports of the High Commissioner on Libya, including the report of the
OHCHR investigation on Libya issued in February 2016 (A/HRC/31/47). The
recommendations in that report, including those describing the further assistance
needed to address the human rights situation in Libya, remain relevant. The present
report seeks to highlight those recommendations that are considered most urgent,
including in terms of further assistance needed, to ensure progress in the protection of
human rights in Libya.

82. The findings of the present report demonstrate that armed groups, some of
whom act on behalf of the State, are primarily responsible for grave violations and
abuses of human rights in Libya. They hinder the effectiveness of support and impede
the implementation of the reforms needed to ensure compliance with human rights
standards and the re-establishment of the rule of law. It is therefore critical that the
Government moves towards the establishment of a professional army and police and
other security forces; prioritizes disarmament, demobilization and reintegration
programmes; and implements the justice and rule of law provisions of the Libyan
Political Agreement, including through the receipt of focused assistance in the areas
described below.

83. The Human Rights Council also has an important role to play in
complementing and strengthening efforts towards ensuring accountability in Libya.

84. Recognizing the urgent need to bring an end to the widespread human rights
violations and abuses being committed in Libya, the High Commissioner appeals to all
parties to the conflict to cease hostilities and support the Government of National
Accord, to move towards a State based on respect for human rights and the rule of
law.

85. Accordingly, the High Commissioner recommends that all parties to the
conflict:
(a) Desist immediately from all violations of international human rights law
and international humanitarian law and abuses of human rights, including those
amounting to crimes under international law;
(b) Declare that such acts will not be tolerated and remove those suspected
of such acts from active duty, pending investigation.

86. The High Commissioner recommends that the Government of Libya:
(a) Address urgently the proliferation of armed groups, including through
disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, and the building of national security
forces under the command and control of the State;
(b) Institute a comprehensive vetting programme compliant with standards
of due process to remove and prevent the recruitment into the State security forces of
individuals about whom there are reasonable grounds to believe they have been
involved in violations of international human rights law or international humanitarian
law, or abuses of human rights;
(c) Address the situation of detainees, whether foreign or Libyan nationals,
including by ensuring that the State is in control of all detention facilities and that
cases are screened with a view to detainees being released or charged and judged in a
trial affording all procedural guarantees, in accordance with Libyan law and
international standards;
(d) Ensure access to legal counsel and courts for detainees and their families
to seek legal review. Monitoring organizations should be permitted regular,
unhindered and without-notice access to all places of detention;
(e) Ensure the proper treatment of foreign or Libyan nationals in detention
or deprived of liberty, including by eliminating torture and other ill-treatment,
including sexual violence. Access to medical treatment and sufficient food and water
must be ensured;
(f) Address urgently the situation of migrants to ensure that all individuals,
regardless of their status, are able to enjoy their human rights, including by
decriminalizing irregular migration, adopting an effective refugee status
determination procedure and implementing alternatives to detention;
(g) Ensure protection for the judiciary and its independence;
(h) Extend full cooperation to and support for the International Criminal
Court by assisting its investigations and complying with its rulings;
(i) Facilitate a voluntary, safe and dignified return of persons who are
currently internally displaced, including the Tawerghan community;
(j) Appoint a focal point on justice issues.

87. The High Commissioner recommends that the international community:
(a) Provide the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court
with the resources necessary to investigate and prosecute the alleged crimes under
international law committed in Libya since 2011;
(b) Prioritize support for the demobilization, disarmament and
reintegration of members of armed groups, to be conducted in compliance with
international human rights standards;
(c) Apply a due diligence framework to programmes that support the
security forces and stringent screening procedures to recipients of technical
assistance;
(d) Ensure protection of and practical assistance to Libyan human rights
defenders, including by facilitating emergency visas, temporary shelter and relocation
where necessary, and consider the establishment of a fund to support human rights
defenders at risk;
(e) Consider establishing a programme of medical support to victims of
human rights abuses and violations;
(f) Ensure respect for the principle of non-refoulement and provide
protection, in accordance with international law, for those with a well-founded fear of
persecution;
(g) Ensure that any cooperation with the Government of Libya, including in
relation to migration, is compliant with international human rights standards.

88. The High Commissioner recommends that the Human Rights Council remains
seized of the progress made towards accountability and the situation of human rights in Libya.