Libya’s reconciliation track turns to unresolved rights abuses

Libya’s National Reconciliation and Human Rights Track endorsed draft recommendations on displacement, enforced disappearances and discrimination after its fourth in person meeting, as reported by the Libyan News Agency and agencies on May 26th.

The four day session formed part of Libya’s Structured Dialogue and examined how transitional and international justice together with reconciliation efforts can move beyond previous initiatives that failed to resolve political division.

Participants reviewed reconciliation projects at both national and local levels before developing proposals addressing violations connected to internal displacement, the human rights situation in southern Libya and discrimination against cultural and linguistic groups.

Participants also heard briefings on missing persons, victims of alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Tarhuna, internally displaced persons in Benghazi and the administrative identification number system.

Representatives demanded clearer recommendations for any future government to address policies they consider discriminatory, particularly over language rights and access to state recognition.

The participants also examined the Presidential Council’s national reconciliation project and debated whether the process should begin through a new national peace charter or through a more gradual approach shaped by local realities.

Most members reportedly favoured starting with local initiatives as their position was that reconciliation is more likely to gain ownership if it is developed from communities affected by first hand displacement.

Women’s participation was also addressed with draft recommendations aimed at ensuring women are involved in decision making as active partners in peacebuilding rather than treated only as representatives of victims’ experiences.

Participants warned that political division and external influence continue to threaten reconciliation efforts while parallel authorities weaken the ability to enforce any national settlement.

The final recommendations are expected after the Structured Dialogue plenary session scheduled for June 7th, their practical impact on Libya’s population depends on whether this recommendation will be respected and applied by the divided political institutions.

Libyan News Agency plus agencies, maghrebi.org