The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has announced that Libyan stakeholders have reached consensus on a comprehensive legal framework to address the long-standing issue of missing persons in the country.
The agreement was achieved during the fifth meeting of the expert committee responsible for developing the legal framework for missing persons, held with support from the United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme.
The consultations brought together representatives from the House of Representatives, the High Council of State, judicial institutions, government bodies, legal experts, and civil society organizations.
Following three days of discussions, participants agreed on a near-final draft of the proposed law, which is designed to establish a unified legal basis for handling missing persons cases and strengthening protections for victims’ families.
The draft legislation outlines the responsibilities of institutions involved in the missing persons file and includes provisions aimed at reinforcing the independence of the General Authority for the Search and Identification of Missing Persons. It also clarifies the mechanism for appointing the authority’s board and seeks to align Libya’s domestic legislation with international legal standards.
Additional measures in the draft include enhancing coordination among relevant institutions, particularly in forensic medicine and judicial procedures, and establishing a national registry to centralize data related to missing persons cases.
The proposed law also expands legal protections and rights for victims and their families while introducing safeguards for data protection and addressing legal gaps that have complicated efforts to manage the issue in previous years.
Participants stressed the importance of adopting clear executive regulations to ensure effective implementation of the law and prevent interference in the process, while maintaining a strong focus on victims’ rights.
