Libya - Independent Fact-Finding Mission
/
2:21
/
MP4
/
173 MB

Edited News , Press Conferences | OHCHR , UNOG , UNITED NATIONS

Libya - Independent Fact-Finding Mission

Libya: War crimes likely committed since 2016, UN probe finds

War crimes and crimes against humanity have likely been committed in Libya by all parties to conflict since 2016 including by external actors, a Human Rights Council-appointed probe said on Monday.

From arbitrary detention to torture, the recruitment of child soldiers and mass killings, the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya listed numerous grave rights violations which had impacted on the country’s people and which gave them “reasonable grounds” for the war crimes allegations.

Civilians were particularly at risk during the 2019-2020 fight for Tripoli, the Mission said, as well as during other violence in the country since 2016 which has been marked by attacks on hospitals, schools, migration detention centres and communities.

“Airstrikes have killed dozens of families. The destruction of health-related facilities has impacted access to health care, and anti-personnel mines left by mercenaries in residential areas have killed and maimed civilians,” said Mission chair, Mohamed Auajjar.

The investigators – whose Fact-Finding Mission was created by the Human Rights Council in June 2020 - published their findings after reviewing hundreds of documents and interviewing more than 150 individuals, alongside parallel research in Libya, Tunisia and Italy.

“Arbitrary detention in secret prisons and unbearable conditions of detention are widely used by the State or militias against anyone perceived to be a threat to their interests or views,” said the Mission’s Tracy Robinson speaking to journalists in Geneva. “Violence in Libyan prisons is committed on such a scale and with such a level of organisation that it may also amount to crimes against humanity.”

The UN-appointed independent investigators highlighted violence against migrants, refugees and other vulnerable minorities including LGBTQi individuals.

“Violations against migrants are committed on a widespread scale by State and non-State actors with a high level of organisation and with encouragement of the State. All of this is suggestive of crimes against humanity,” said Mission member Chaloka Beyani.

Mr. Beyani also pointed to worrying reports about the continued presence of foreign fighters in the country from the Syrian conflict and private mercenaries allegedly contracted by the Russia-based Wagner Group in the fight for the Libyan capital from 2019 to 2020, claims highlighted previously by the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries.

“Our investigations have indicated that there are foreign fighters, there are mercenaries in Libya, and they have not yet left the territory of Libya as required,” he said.

Other likely violations of international law covered by the Mission included the recruitment of children to fight. “Our report also documents the recruitment and direct participation of children in hostilities, the enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings of prominent women and continuing sexual and other forms of violence against vulnerable populations including LGBTQI persons,” said Ms. Robinson.

The Mission was also able to verify allegations of atrocity crimes committed in the town of Tarhuna, southeast of Tripoli, between 2016 and 2020, where mass graves containing the bodies of men, women and children have been found.

According to reports, the Kaniyat militia were responsible for killing perhaps hundreds of civilians in Tarhuna, their wounds indicating that they had been shot many times while blindfolded, handcuffed and with their legs tied.

Mission chair Mohamed Auajjar noted that the recently installed Government of National Unity has created the possibility of national dialogue and unification of State institutions.

The UN has been supporting peace efforts in Libya, which descended into chaos and conflict following the overthrow of President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, resulting in the country being divided between the internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) and the rival Libyan National Army (LNA).

In a statement, the Mission noted that it had identified “both Libyans and foreign actors who may bear responsibility for the violations, abuses and crimes committed in Libya since 2016”.

These names will remain on a confidential list “until the need arises for its publication or sharing with other accountability mechanisms”, the Mission continued, acknowledging the continuing work of the investigation opened in 2011 by the International Criminal Court (ICC) into alleged crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Libya, at the request of the UN Security Council.

“As Libyans strive to secure peace, ensuring accountability for gross human rights violations and international crimes committed in the country is more necessary than ever to deter further violations and promote long-term peace and reconciliation,” said Mr. Auajjar. “We urge Libya to intensify its efforts to hold those responsible to account. It is also essential that the international community continues to provide support to the Libyan judicial authorities.”

ends

STORY: Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya

TRT: 2 mins 20s

SOURCE: UNTV CH

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

ASPECT RATIO: 16:9

DATELINE: 04 Oct 2021 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  1. Exterior medium shot, United Nations flag flying.
  2. Medium shot, inside the press conference room, showing speakers and participants.
  3. SOUNDBITE (English): Tracy Robinson, Member of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya: “Arbitrary detention in secret prisons and unbearable conditions of detention are widely used by the State and militias against anyone perceived to be a threat to their interests or views. Violence in Libyan prisons is committed on such a scale and with such a level of organization that it may also potentially amount to crimes against humanity.”
  4. Medium shot, TV camera operators filming the conference at the back of the room.
  5. SOUNDBITE (English): Tracy Robinson, Member of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya: “Our report also documents the recruitment and direct participation of children in hostilities, the enforced disappearance and extrajudicial killings of prominent women and continuing sexual and other forms of violence against vulnerable populations including LGBTQI persons.”
  6. Medium shot of the speakers and the press briefing broadcast on Zoom.
  7. SOUNDBITE (English): Tracy Robinson, Member of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya: “We paid particular attention to the allegations of atrocity crimes committed in the town of Tarhuna to the southeast of Tripoli between 2016 and 2020. We were able to document the existence of mass graves in Tarhuna.”
  8. Close shot, a photographer taking pictures of the press briefing broadcast on Zoom.
  9. SOUNDBITE (English): Chaloka Beyani, Member of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya: “Our investigations also indicated that migrants, asylum seekers and refugees are subjected to a litany of abuses at sea, in detention centres and at the hands of traffickers. Violations against migrants are committed on a widespread scale by State and non-State actors with a high-level organization and with encouragement of the state. All of this is suggestive of crimes against humanity.”
  10. Medium shot, inside the press conference room, showing participants attending the conference.
  11. SOUNDBITE (English): Chaloka Beyani, Member of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya: “Indeed our investigations have indicated that there are foreign fighters that are mercenaries in Libya and they have not yet Libya, and they have not yet left the territory of Libya as required.”
  12. Medium shot, cameramen filming the press conference.
  13. Medium shot, a participant attending the conference.
  14. Medium shot, a participant attending the conference.

Similar Stories

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 15 August 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OCHA , WHO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 15 August 2025 ENG FRA

Rolando Gómez of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the World Health Organization.

INC5 2 Plastic Pollution Conference: UNEP Executive director Inger Andersen Media Stakeout - 15 August 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences , Statements | UNEP

INC5 2 Plastic Pollution Conference: UNEP Executive director Inger Andersen Media Stakeout - 15 August 2025 ENG FRA

After 10 days of UN talks on plastic pollution, no consensus was reached; negotiations to continue.

Gaza health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza health update - WHO ENG FRA

Gaza: Hospitals continue to overflow with people injured while seeking food - WHO 

As besieged Palestinian civilians face widespread malnutrition and starvation, hospitals in the Strip are increasingly overwhelmed by the influx of victims of shootings and other injuries at food distribution areas, warns the World Health Organization.

 

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 12 August 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | WHO

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 12 August 2025 ENG FRA

Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by representatives from the United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar and the World Health Organization.

 

Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar Press conference: Launch of Annual Report - 12 August 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | OHCHR

Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar Press conference: Launch of Annual Report - 12 August 2025 ENG FRA

Launch of IIMM’s Annual Report detailing its progress in investigating serious international crimes committed in Myanmar, including advances in identifying perpetrators.

UNEP - Press Conference: INC-5.2 on plastic pollution

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNEP

UNEP - Press Conference: INC-5.2 on plastic pollution ENG FRA

Press Conference - Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2)

Sudan update UNHCR - WHO - UNMAS

1

1

1

Edited News | UNHCR , WHO , UNMAS

Sudan update UNHCR - WHO - UNMAS ENG FRA

Urgent help is needed to halt a deadly cholera outbreak that is sweeping across Sudan, UN agencies said on Friday, while warning that communities continue to be terrorized by parties to the conflict even as they flee violence.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 08 August 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UNHCR , WHO , UNMAS , UN HABITAT

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 08 August 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid press briefing, which was attended by the representatives and spokespersons of the United Nations Refugee Agency, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Mine Action Service, and UN Habitat.

 

UNEP Press conference: Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2)- 05 August 2025

2

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News , Images | UNEP

UNEP Press conference: Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2)- 05 August 2025 ENG FRA

Negotiations got under way at UN Geneva on Tuesday to agree on a legally binding treaty to curb plastic pollution, with delegates from nearly 180 countries attending.

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 05 August 2025

1

1

1

Press Conferences | UN WOMEN , UNHCR , UNICEF

UN Geneva Press Briefing - 05 August 2025 ENG FRA

Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund, UN Women, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. 

Gaza aid update OCHA - UNICEF

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , UNICEF

Gaza aid update OCHA - UNICEF ENG FRA

Gaza: Hundreds of trucks per day of free aid needed “for months”, in addition to commercial supplies - OCHA

Despite the tactical pauses Israel introduced last week to allow some safe passage for humanitarian convoys, the amount of aid that has entered Gaza remains by far insufficient for the starving population, and UN trucks continue to face impediments on their way to delivering aid. 

Widespread starvation in Gaza – IPC, UN Women 29 July 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UN WOMEN

Widespread starvation in Gaza – IPC, UN Women 29 July 2025 ENG FRA

Aid agencies echoed wider warnings of growing signs of widespread starvation in Gaza on Tuesday, as UN-partnered international food security experts released their most dire assessment yet of the situation in the wartorn enclave.