The Libyan Foreign Minister in the parliament-designate government, Abdel-Hadi al-Hwaij voiced strong reservations about the United Nations Human Rights Council’s annual report on Libya, covering March 2023 to April 2024. The Libyan Minister argued that the report contained inaccurate generalizations and relied on unreliable sources, such as social media.
In a written intervention presented during the 56th session of the Human Rights Council, Al-Hwaij provided detailed responses to what he described as “misconceptions” in the report. These responses were distributed to ambassadors, international organizations, and civil society representatives.
Recently, the Libyan Minister met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, to discuss the situation in Libya. During the meeting, he invited Turk to expand his visit to include areas controlled by the Libyan interim government.
Libya has been in turmoil since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, leading to ongoing conflict between rival factions. The Government of National Unity (GNU) led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba is based in Tripoli, while the Parliament-designated government, which includes Abdel-Hadi Al-Hwaij, operates from the east.
The UN Human Rights Council’s report has been controversial, highlighting issues such as arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and violations of freedom of expression. Al-Hawaij’s criticisms underscore the tension between the Libyan interim government and international human rights bodies. He accused the report of over-relying on social media sources, which he claims are often not credible. His written intervention aimed to refute specific points in the report and provide a more accurate portrayal of the situation in Libya.
The human rights situation in Libya remains dire, with various factions accused of abuses. The international community continues to call for accountability and protection of human rights as essential steps towards achieving stability in the country. The interim government’s engagement with the UN can be seen as an attempt to address these concerns while defending its actions and policies.
