Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya

Background

On 22 June 2020, the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) established the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya (FFM) by resolution 43/39 for a period of one year, to investigate violations and abuses of human rights throughout Libya by all parties since the beginning of 2016, with a view to preventing further deterioration of the human rights situation, and to ensuring accountability.

On 5 October 2020, the FFM presented an oral update to the HRC – see Statements. The following day, the HRC adopted decision 45/113, which, along with postponing the implementation of other HRC mandates due to the liquidity crisis affecting the UN Secretariat and the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, extended the mandate of the FFM until September 2021. The secretariat supporting the work of the FFM became fully operational only in June 2021.

On 7 October 2021, the FFM presented a written report to the HRC – see Documentation below. Subsequently, on 11 October 2021, the HRC extended the mandate of the FFM for nine months to allow for the implementation of its mandate (Resolution 48/25).

On 4 July 2022, the HRC extended the mandate of the FFM for a final non-extendable period of nine months, to present its concluding recommendations (decision 50/L.23).

In this connection, the FFM on Libya renews its invitation to individuals, groups and organizations to submit new or complementary information and documentation relevant to the FFM’s mandate in relation to all acts of violence in Libya, particularly those that may constitute violations and abuses of international human rights law and violations of international humanitarian law that have been committed, in particular against civilians, including specifically against women and children. You can download the relevant templates in العربية or English, and submit them through the secure cloud created by the FFM for this purpose. Submissions should be received as soon as possible, but no later than 31 December 2022.

See statement on call for submissions (August 2022) - العربية | English

Mandate

The Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya was established by the Human Rights Council through resolution 43/39 of 22 June 2020, which requested the High Commissioner for Human Rights to “immediately establish and dispatch a fact-finding mission to Libya, and to designate experts to implement, in an independent and impartial manner, for a period of one year, the following mandate:

(a) to establish the facts and circumstances of the situation of human rights throughout Libya, and to collect and review relevant information, to document alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by all parties in Libya since the beginning of 2016, including any gendered dimensions of such violations and abuses, and to preserve evidence with a view to ensuring that perpetrators of violations or abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law are held accountable;

(b) to work in cooperation with the Libyan authorities, the League of Arab States, the African Union and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya.”

Human Rights Council decision 50/L.23 of 4 July 2022, extending the Mission’s mandate for a further nine (9) months, requests the fact-finding mission to present to the Human Rights Council at its fifty-second session, its final report on the situation of human rights in Libya, during an interactive dialogue, with a particular focus on its concrete and concluding recommendations for the Libyan authorities in the priority areas of:

(a) Achieving transitional justice and national reconciliation;
(b) Strengthening national human rights institutions and the national action plan for human rights to follow-up on the investigation of the fact-finding mission and recommendations made by the treaty bodies and in the context of the universal periodic review;
(c) Strengthening the rule of law, including supporting judicial processes and law enforcement.

Members

Documentation

Report of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya - 27 March 2023 (العربية | English)

Conference Room Paper: Detailed findings of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya - 27 March 2023. (العربية | English)

Detailed findings on the situation in Tarhuna: Conference room paper of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya, 1 July 2022 (issued 4 July 2022). (العربية | English)

Report of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya - 27 June 2022 (released 29 June 2022) (العربية | English)

Follow-up report of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya - 28 March 2022 (العربية | English)

Report of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya – 1 October 2021 (English)

UNOSAT satellite imagery-based analysis of disturbed earth near Tarhuna, in Marqub District, Tripolitania Region, Libya on behalf of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya
15 September 2021

Press Releases

Libya: Urgent action needed to remedy deteriorating human rights situation, UN Fact-Finding Mission warns in final report
27 March 2023
العربية | English

Libya must take decisive steps to address serious rights violations, UN Fact-Finding Mission on Libya says
29 January 2022
العربية | English

UN Fact-Finding Mission on Libya concludes fifth investigative mission
30 November 2022
العربية | English

Un fact finding mission on libya’s statement on armed clashes in Tripoli
29 August 2022
العربية | English

Accountability is Pivotal to Prosecute Those Responsible for War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity in Libya
29 June 2022
العربية | English

Statements

UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya about the Recent Violence in Tripoli
العربية | English
13 June 2022

Opening remarks by Chair of Fact-Finding Mission on Libya at press conference, Geneva
العربية | English
28 March 2022

Opening Remarks at the press conference given by members of the Fact-Finding Mission on Libya
English
04 October 2021

Statement of Mr Mohamed Auajjar, Chair of the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya, at the 45th Human Rights Council session
English
05 October 2020