Warring factions in Libya show little regard for civilian life, says UN, reporting 'gross' rights abuses
16 November 2015 – Libya continues to be embroiled in political strife and deadly violence – with all parties committing possible war crimes amid multiple armed conflicts affecting several regions and contributing to a general breakdown of law and order, according to a new United Nations human rights report released today.
All parties in Libya “appear to be committing violations of international humanitarian law, including those that may amount to war crimes” as well as “gross violations or abuses of international human rights law,” said a press release on the report, which was published jointly by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Between 1 January and 31 October, the report documented serious abuses and violations of international law that included indiscriminate shelling, abduction of civilians, torture and executions as well as deliberate destruction of property. In particular, it laid bare the abuses faced by vulnerable civilians, such as internally displaced people, human rights defenders, migrants, asylum seekers and refugees.
“Across Libya, warring factions showed little regard for avoiding or minimizing loss of civilian life, injury to civilians and damage to civilian objects,” said the report. In several regions of the country, the violence led to hundreds of deaths, mass displacement and humanitarian crises.
In what seemed to be retaliation for owners' actual or perceived political allegiances, rival armed groups looted, burned or otherwise destroyed homes and property. They also continued to abduct civilians, based on family links, origin or political affiliation.
Detainees were vulnerable to torture and other ill-treatment, which sometimes led to death in custody – carried out with impunity. Documented methods of torture included beatings, suspension in stress positions, electric shocks and sleep deprivation, said the report, adding that abductees were frequently denied contact with their families...
Full article:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=52566#.VkqfofmrTIU
