On 19 March 2025, Al Shahed – Public Liberties and Human Rights and the Libyan Organisation for Truth and Justice, in collaboration with Alkarama, issued a joint appeal to UN committees, urging them to resume their respective reviews of the human rights situation in Libya.
The UN treaty bodies, which ensure compliance with international commitments by state parties, include, among others, the Human Rights Committee and the Committee Against Torture. Composed of independent experts, these committees oversee the implementation of conventions ratified by member states. However, Libya has not been reviewed by these committees for many years.
Indeed, the country has not been assessed by the Committee Against Torture for over 26 years, despite having ratified the Convention Against Torture in 1989. Similarly, the Human Rights Committee, responsible for monitoring the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Libya in 1970, has not conducted a review of the country for 18 years.
In this context, the NGOs have called on these treaty bodies to resume their examinations in order to hold Libya accountable for the situation on the ground.
A lever for justice and stability
Since the fall of the Gaddafi regime in 2011, Libya has experienced a period of profound political and social instability, weakening its institutions and hindering its ability to meet its international obligations.
As the situation gradually stabilises, it is essential to relaunch a thorough review of the human rights situation in the country. Such monitoring is particularly important for assessing the current situation and encouraging the authorities to take measures to improve respect for fundamental rights and freedoms.
In their call to the committees, the NGOs emphasised that periodic reviews of Libya are crucial for combating impunity for serious human rights violations and for promoting an environment of justice, accountability, and lasting stability.