On International Children’s Day, 30 Libyan human rights organizations said in a joint statement that “children in Libya are being treated as adults in criminal cases.”
“The minors, whether they are Libyans or illegal immigrants, are detained in adult prisons except for some cases,” the statement said.
It added that state institutions have “failed to activate and develop laws on children’s rights.’ It pointed to the decline in child rights practices in Libya, given the fragile political process.
It pointed to the “very weak” protection of children from sexual abuse, especially when the victim is a child of workers or immigrants in Libya.
“Human rights organizations have monitored dozens of sexual harassment reports and child abuses against workers and immigrants by foreigners and Libyans,” the statement said.
The joint statement urged the Libyan authorities to review the legislation, and not to treat the children as adults. It also affirmed the need to rehabilitate the police personnel who deal with children during the arrest or investigation.
Last week, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that the children in Libya are suffering the horrific effects of protracted conflicts.
In a statement, UNICEF announced that the children in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Libya, are suffering from the horrific effects of protracted conflicts, societal violence, explosive ordnance and remnants of war, in addition to political and social unrest.
The UN Body said, according to the Italian news agency “AKI,” that the violence in Tripoli has killed at least three children this year.
While the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said earlier this month that those arriving from Libya have in many cases suffered severe abuse and human rights violations.
On International Children’s Day, 30 Libyan human rights organizations said in a joint statement that “children in Libya are being treated as adults in criminal cases.”
“The minors, whether they are Libyans or illegal immigrants, are detained in adult prisons except for some cases,” the statement said.
It added that state institutions have “failed to activate and develop laws on children’s rights.’ It pointed to the decline in child rights practices in Libya, given the fragile political process.
It pointed to the “very weak” protection of children from sexual abuse, especially when the victim is a child of workers or immigrants in Libya.
“Human rights organizations have monitored dozens of sexual harassment reports and child abuses against workers and immigrants by foreigners and Libyans,” the statement said.
The joint statement urged the Libyan authorities to review the legislation, and not to treat the children as adults. It also affirmed the need to rehabilitate the police personnel who deal with children during the arrest or investigation.
Last week, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that the children in Libya are suffering the horrific effects of protracted conflicts.
In a statement, UNICEF announced that the children in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa, including Libya, are suffering from the horrific effects of protracted conflicts, societal violence, explosive ordnance and remnants of war, in addition to political and social unrest.
The UN Body said, according to the Italian news agency “AKI,” that the violence in Tripoli has killed at least three children this year.
While the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Refugee Agency, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said earlier this month that those arriving from Libya have in many cases suffered severe abuse and human rights violations.