On Tuesday, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), welcomed the appointment of five female judges in the North African country. The judges are set to work in two new specialised courts in Benghazi and Tripoli, dedicated to hearing cases of violence against women and children.
“The establishment of these two courts, coupled with the appointment of five female judges represents a significant step towards advancing the rights of women and children in Libya,” UNSMIL said in a statement.
The statement explained that the criminal justice response to cases of violence against women and children will vastly improve with the dedicated courts. UNSMIL added that it is cooperating with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and UNWOMEN, to train the judges.
“The UN Mission, in partnership with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and UNWOMEN, is committed to a specialised programme of training for all judges appointed to the newly established courts,” it stated.
UNSMIL confirmed that it looks forward to working closely with the Libyan Supreme Judicial Council, to implement this programme.