On Wednesday, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) intensified its calls for justice system reforms and improvements in detention conditions across the country.
Special Representative Hanna Tetteh met with Libyan Minister of Justice Halima Abdulrahman to discuss pressing human rights concerns, the state of detention centers, and the broader efforts needed to strengthen Libya’s legal framework.
During the meeting, Tetteh emphasized the UN’s commitment to providing technical support to Libya’s Ministry of Justice. She highlighted the need to improve legal processes, ensure fair trials, and enhance judicial transparency.
Strengthening the justice system is essential for Libya’s long-term stability, particularly as arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and mistreatment of detainees remain serious concerns.
The conditions inside Libya’s detention centers have drawn increasing international criticism. Many facilities are controlled by various armed factions, operating outside of state oversight. Reports of inhumane treatment, overcrowding, and the unlawful detention of migrants, political opponents, and activists have raised alarms among human rights organizations.
In December 2023, then-acting UN envoy Stephanie Khoury urged Libyan authorities to allow UN monitors full access to all detention centers. She warned that arbitrary arrests continue despite some progress in legal reforms. She also stressed that authorities must hold those responsible for illegal detentions and kidnappings accountable and ensure that justice is upheld for all detainees.
The situation of migrants and refugees in Libya has been particularly troubling. Libya, a major transit hub for migrants trying to reach Europe, has been criticized for its treatment of asylum seekers held in detention centers. The UN has repeatedly called on Libyan authorities to reform migration policies and ensure humane conditions for detainees in line with international human rights standards.
The justice system in Libya has faced deep challenges since the 2011 revolution. Decades of weak institutions, coupled with years of conflict, have left the country with a fragmented legal system where state and non-state actors exercise competing authority. While efforts have been made to rebuild judicial institutions, corruption, political interference, and security concerns continue to hinder progress.
