General situation addressed

Cases
Case status
Unknown
Location of case in SG report
2022-042-001
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2022
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 Peace Operation / Political mission
Dates of prior UN action
17 January 2022,
Dates of mentioned reprisals
11 October 2021, 6 April 2022
Reprisal information
  1. During the reporting period, multiple UN actors continued to address the impact of requirements imposed on civil society organizations on their ability to operate independently and engage with the United Nations in the field of human rights. The January 2022 report of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to the Security Council noted that legal measures to curtail the activities of civil society organizations continued to be imposed, including denying the registration of civil society organizations and requiring them to report any interaction with United Nations officials (S/2022/31, para. 53).
  2. The Human Rights, Transitional Justice and Rule of Law Division of UNSMIL reported that, on 6 April 2022, the Tripoli Civil Society Commission issued a statement banning Libyan NGOs from participating in or organizing activities (i.e. trainings) abroad or in collaboration with the international community, including the United Nations, unless the activities and related organisations have been registered with the Commission officially. On 11 October 2021, the Tripoli Civil Society Commission issued a Circular in application of Executive Decree 286 (2018) requiring all civil society organizations registered in the last five years to re-register or be considered illegitimate and dissolved by the Commission.
  3. The Human Rights, Transitional Justice and Rule of Law Division of UNSMIL continued to document incidents of threats, harassment, and arbitrary detention by state actors in Tripoli, the Benghazi Internal Security Agency (ISA), and by state-affiliated armed groups against human rights defenders for their cooperation or perceived cooperation with the UN. Members of civil society organizations and social movements have reportedly been monitored and some individuals placed under surveillance, which is having a chilling effect and inhibiting cooperation and engagement with the UN. Names and further details of those concerned are withheld due to fear of further reprisals. OHCHR and UNSMIL are closely following the cases and are in contact with relevant authorities.
Types of reprisals suffered
  • Access denied to UN expert/representative
  • Administrative reprisal
  • Detention/Imprisonment: Detention/Imprisonment - General
  • Surveillance
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
Alleged/likely perpetrators
State actors
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
Yes
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
Yes
Was the case raised by a State at the UN?
No
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
How many times has the case been followed up in subsequent SG reports?
0