Amnesty International called on the United Nations Security Council to impose targeted sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes against those involved in violating international humanitarian law in Libya, alongside prosecutions through the International Criminal Court (ICC), in a briefing released this week.
“Unless the international community demonstrates the will to investigate war crimes and hold perpetrators accountable, the cycle of abuses and the suffering of victims is likely to worsen,” said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director at Amnesty International. “This climate of impunity compounded by lawlessness must be ended.”
At least 90,000 people have been displaced by the fighting so far, said the non-governmental organisation, with militants from rival militias engaged in fierce fighting. The city of Benghazi has seen the worst of the fighting.
With talks currently ongoing in Geneva in the hope of reaching a political settlement between the warring sides, accountability will play a crucial role in building stability said Ms Sahraoui.
“Efforts to reach a political settlement will be meaningless if they do not ensure human rights concerns are addressed,” she said. “Human rights abuses committed by the warring parties are fuelling grievances and cannot be swept under the carpet.”
Ms Sahraoui further added,
“The participants’ commitment to the rule of law and respect for human rights is a crucial first step, but words alone will not change things on the ground. Effective accountability measures must be put in place if the cycle of abuse is to end.”
See our earlier posts:
Conflicting Libya factions agree to UN facilitated talks (10 Jan 2015)
Potential war crimes in Libya says UN (24 Dec 2014)
ICC chief prosecutor warns UN Security Council of war crimes in Libya (12 Nov 2014)
Fierce fighting rages in Benghazi (04 Nov 2014)
Militants committing war crimes in Libya says Amnesty International (31 Oct 2014)
Libyan militia attacks amount to war crimes says HRW (10 Sep 2014)
Libyan militias capture key government buildings (01 Sep 2014)
Sanctions placed on Libya by UN Security Council (28 Aug 2014)
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