Press

Members of the Board and Secretariat 2011

Chairman - Stellan Gärde

Legal Counsel - Winluck Wahiu

Advocate - Jonas Wiberg

Development Aid Manager - Alex Garcia

Legal Researcher - Ekaterina Vytnova

Legal Counsel- Selma Oliver

Legal Researcher - Peter Varga

Legal Researcher - Guillermo Velasco Barajas

 

Secretariat: Rukhsana Rahman

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Libya: unarmed civilians must be protected

The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today called on the Libyan authorities to immediately end the ongoing gross human rights violations committed by security forces and pro-government militia against the civilian population in Libya. The ICJ also urged the international community to take robust measures to end the deadly attacks against Libyan demonstrators and to ensure the immediate protection of civilians.

Sweeping protests against the 41-year rule of Colonel Moammer Gaddafi have spread across Libya in recent days. At least 300 people were reportedly killed and thousands injured during these protests. Warplanes and helicopters were reportedly attacking civilians and bombing indiscriminately across Tripoli on Monday.

"The ongoing attacks against civilians amount to serious crimes under international law," said Wilder Tayler, ICJ Secretary General. "Libyan authorities must immediately and unconditionally stop these attacks and ensure that those ordering and carrying out the government crackdown on the protesters, including those firing live rounds into crowds, are held criminally accountable," Tayler added.

Libyan protesters have expressed publicly their aspirations for the end of the Gaddafi regime and the emergence of a democratic government that guarantees the rule of law and protects human rights.

"Libyan authorities bear responsibility for upholding their legal obligations under international law," said Wilder Tayler. "To this end, they must allow the media and human rights organisations to have access to Libya and end all restrictions on internet and phone communications that prevent Libyans from communicating with each other and with the outside world," Tayler added.

The ICJ urges the international community to consider the options at its disposal to ensure the immediate protection of the civilian population in Libya. "The UN Security Council, when considering the situation in Libya, must address serious human rights violations committed during the protests," said Wilder Tayler. "An international fact-finding mechanism must be established to investigate these violations," Tayler concluded.


For more information, please contact Saïd Benarbia, Middle East & North Africa Legal Adviser, at + 41229793817

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Middle East Protests Intensify

Our Team in Libya Documents, Investigates Deaths

In Libya, Muammar Gaddafi has vowed to fight protesters “to the last bullet.” Human Rights Watch has documented more than 300 deaths, and the full toll is believed to be much higher. Our team in eastern Libya viewed mobile phone footage from a witness in Benghazi of several dozen bound and blindfolded men – many in military and police uniforms. The person who took the footage said they were soldiers and police who were executed for refusing to attack the protesters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Apply Human Rights annual meeting was held on 20 May 2010. To read the protokoll click here .