climate of fear surrounding witnesses and civil society

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2023-068-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2023
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 26.3351

Longitude: 17.228331

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Libya
From Region
UN body that raised the case prior to the SG report
  • UN Human Rights Council: UN Independent Investigation
Dates of prior UN action
March 2023
Type of record
General situation addressed
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Individual's/organization's activity

witnesses and civil society, groups and individuals, human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, journalists and civil society associations

Type of rights defended
  • Unclear in SG Report
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
No
Reported trigger of reprisal

potential engagement with the FFM

Engagement with UN body
  • UN Human Rights Council: UN Independent Investigation
Type of attempted engagement
  • Unclear
Location of mentioned reprisals
Libya
Reprisal information
  1. In March 2023, in its final report to the Human Rights Council, the Independent Fact- Finding Mission on Libya reported that the climate of fear surrounding witnesses and civil society had frequently hampered the Mission’s engagements. Reportedly, there were instances when groups and individuals declined to meet with the Mission in particular locations, or at all, because of fear of reprisal. The Mission reported that attacks against, inter alia, human rights defenders, women’s rights activists, journalists and civil society associations created an atmosphere of fear that led to self-censorship, hiding or exile at a time when it is necessary to create an atmosphere that is conducive to free and fair elections. (A/HRC/52/83, paras. 24 and 68).
Types of reprisals suffered
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
Alleged/likely perpetrators
State actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
Yes
Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
Yes