Human Rights

In Libya, human rights violations have been occurring for decades, spanning from Muammar Gaddafi’s rule to the present day.  Both the rebel groups and the current government have been found guilty of many atrocities. Many politicians, activists, and government employees have been forced to disappear or tortured due to their dissenting political views that may influence elections [1]. Migrants and refugees are taken advantage of by both sides of the conflict, subject to recruitment in exchange for reduced sentences or other benefits [2].

Militia groups arbitrarily detain people, murder and torture them, and wreak havoc upon civilian buildings. They have even prevented access to clean water by launching attacks on water infrastructure. Authorities allow militias to commit violent acts against minority groups such as women, children, and LGBTI people [3].

While Gaddafi was still in power before the first Libyan Civil War, many human rights violations were committed by his forces. In 2011, evidence was found that Gaddafi committed a massacre in the town of Zawiyah for multiple days in a row. Sky News reported that Gaddafi’s military launched a barrage of shells on the town, destroying residential apartments and even the town mosque. They also saw women and children who were shot in the head. [3] in 2019, 836,963 people in Libya were found in need of humanitarian assistance. However, circumstances have improved since then but there is still a dire need for assistance and stability in the country. In 2022, 803,000 people require humanitarian assistance [4].

 

Bibliography

[1] “Libya Archives.” Amnesty International, https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/libya/report-libya/.

[2] Wallis, Emma. “Migrants Recruited in Libya to Fight Civil War.” InfoMigrants, Infomigrants, 17 Jan. 2020, https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/22172/migrants-recruited-in-libya-to-fight-civil-war.

[3] Crawford, Alex. “Evidence of Massacre by Gaddafi Forces.” Sky News, 23 Mar. 2011, https://web.archive.org/web/20130621133935/http://news.sky.com/story/843866/evidence-of-massacre-by-gaddafi-forces.