Background
On 22 June 2020, the United Nations Human Rights Council established the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya 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 prevent further deterioration of the human rights situation, and to ensure accountability.
On 5th October 2020, the FFM presented its oral update to the Human Rights Council (HRC) – see
Statements. The following day, the HRC adopted decision 45/113 which, along with the implementation of other HRC mandates that required postponement due to the current liquidity crisis affecting the UN Secretariat and the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, extended the mandate of the FFM until September 2021. The FFM will therefore present its report to the HRC at the 48th session, in September 2021.
On 25 January 2021, the FFM issued its Call for Submissions, inviting individuals, groups and organizations to submit 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. The Call, including the template, is available on the
link.
After a delay of some 7 months due to the ongoing Regula Budget liquidity crisis, the establishment of the FFM Secretariat was finally authorised in March 2021. It is expected that the team will begin their work in mid-April 2021, and deploy to Tunis in early May 2021, subject to COVID-19 restrictions.
