PRESS RELEASE : UN Human Rights Council 56 – UK Statement on Libya [August 2024]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 28 August 2024.
UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue on High Commissioner’s report on technical cooperation in Colombia. Delivered in Geneva on 8 July 2024.
Thank you, Mr President,
First, let me thank OHCHR for their report which, despite restricted access to critical locations, has managed to highlight the serious human rights violations which continue unabated across Libya.
The participation of victim and civil society is essential for delivering transitional justice. We therefore welcome that some victims’ representatives were engaged in capacity-building activities. However, we remain deeply concerned by reports of shrinking civic space, and call upon Libya to enable the safe and meaningful participation of civil society in transitional justice and reconciliation.
We welcome House of Representatives’ endorsement of the draft law aimed at protecting women from violence and the engagement of women in capacity-building activities. We encourage the Libyan authorities to ensure and enhance women’s safe and meaningful participation in politics and public life.
The UK would also like to thank Libya for bringing once again its Item 10 resolution renewing the OHCHR technical assistance and capacity building. It is clear from the reports of continued gross and widespread human rights violations that this is the very minimum required. Libya must stay on the Council’s agenda.
Finally, we urge the Libyan authorities to grant OHCHR and United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) unhindered access to all locations as requested in HRC resolution 52/41.
