ICJ Statement on Serious Human Rights Violations in Libya – The International Commission of Jurists – ICJ

Report on Human Rights and Sustainable Development Goal Progress in Libya

Introduction: A Stagnation in SDG 16 Advancement

A report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council on 3 October 2025 by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) highlights severe impediments to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) in Libya. Despite two years of technical assistance, a persistent lack of accountability for serious human rights violations undermines national stability and the rule of law. Recent events demonstrate a pattern of systematic abuses that disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, directly contravening the principles of SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Analysis of Human Rights Violations and Their Impact on SDGs

Recent Incidents Undermining Peace and Justice (SDG 16)

Several recent events illustrate the critical failure to progress towards key targets within SDG 16:

• Violation of the Right to Life (SDG 16.1): The discovery of 67 unidentified bodies in hospital refrigerators in Abu Salim and Al-Khadra points to a severe breakdown in security and a failure to reduce violence and related death rates.
• Extrajudicial Violence and Impunity (SDG 16.1 & 16.3): Escalating hostilities between militias, triggered by the extrajudicial execution of a leader, resulted in the deaths of over 10 civilians. This violence demonstrates a lack of state control and a failure to ensure equal access to justice.
• Torture and Enforced Disappearances (SDG 16.3 & 16.A): A leaked video in May 2025 revealed that Ibrahim Al-Dersi, a member of the House of Representatives missing for a year, had been subjected to torture. This act signifies a profound erosion of the rule of law and the weakness of national institutions responsible for protecting human rights.
• Disproportionate Impact on Vulnerable Groups (SDG 5 & 10): The report notes that systematic abuses disproportionately affect women, migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers, hindering progress towards gender equality and the reduction of inequalities.

Systemic Challenges to Institutional Integrity (SDG 16)

The foundations for achieving SDG 16 are further weakened by systemic institutional failures:

• Suppression of Civil Society (SDG 16.7 & 16.10): Authorities continue to harass and attack civil society actors, preventing their essential work. This undermines efforts to ensure responsive, inclusive, and participatory decision-making and protect fundamental freedoms.
• Failure in International Cooperation and Justice (SDG 16.3): Despite accepting the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) jurisdiction, Libya has failed to cooperate effectively. Suspects wanted by the ICC for crimes in Tarhuna remain in Libyan custody without being surrendered, and another wanted suspect remains free. This inaction is a direct barrier to promoting the rule of law at national and international levels.

Recommendations for Advancing SDGs in Libya

Strengthening Accountability Mechanisms for SDG 16

The ICJ concludes that current technical assistance has not yielded effective results in achieving domestic accountability, a cornerstone of SDG 16. To address this deficit and foster the development of effective, accountable, and transparent institutions (SDG 16.6), the following actions are recommended:

1. Continue Technical Assistance: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) should continue providing technical assistance to Libyan authorities to build capacity for human rights protection.
2. Establish an Independent Monitoring Mechanism: The Human Rights Council must establish a more robust independent monitoring mechanism, specifically in the form of a Special Rapporteur, to ensure impartial oversight and drive accountability for human rights violations, thereby creating the necessary conditions for achieving SDG 16.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article’s central theme is the breakdown of justice, rule of law, and institutional accountability in Libya. It details issues like extrajudicial executions, torture, enforced disappearances, and impunity, which are direct concerns of SDG 16. The call for domestic accountability and cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) further reinforces this connection.

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The article explicitly mentions that systematic abuses disproportionally affect women. This connects the human rights violations to SDG 5, which aims to end all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The statement highlights that abuses disproportionally impact vulnerable groups, including “women, migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and other minorities.” This points to a failure to protect these groups and ensure their equal treatment under the law, which is a core principle of SDG 10.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Targets under SDG 16

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   This target is directly relevant due to the article’s mention of “67 unidentified bodies,” “over 10 civilians were killed as a result of hostilities,” and the “extrajudicial execution” of a militia leader. These events represent a failure to reduce violence and related deaths.

2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   The article highlights “systematic abuses committed with impunity,” the failure of “domestic accountability,” and Libya’s lack of cooperation with the ICC by not handing over wanted suspects. This demonstrates a collapse of the rule of law and a denial of access to justice for victims.

3. Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements.

   The statement that “the authorities continue to attack and harass civil society actors, preventing their work” directly relates to the protection of fundamental freedoms, specifically the freedom of association and expression for human rights defenders.

Target under SDG 5

1. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres.

   The article’s assertion that women are disproportionally affected by “patterns of systematic abuses” connects directly to this target, which seeks to end all forms of violence against women.

Target under SDG 10

1. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices.

   The fact that abuses disproportionately harm “migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and other minorities” implies a lack of equal protection and justice for these groups, which this target aims to rectify.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 16

• For Target 16.1: The article provides specific numbers that can be used as indicators of violence. These include the “67 unidentified bodies discovered,” the “over 10 civilians killed,” and the mention of an “extrajudicial execution.” These figures serve as direct measures of violent deaths.
• For Target 16.3: The state of “impunity” is a qualitative indicator of the failure of the justice system. More specific implied indicators are the number of ICC-wanted suspects who have not been transferred to the Court (at least two mentioned) and the number of suspects under investigation but not in custody (one mentioned).
• For Target 16.10: The article implies an indicator related to the safety of human rights defenders through its report that “authorities continue to attack and harass civil society actors.” The case of Ibrahim Al-Dersi, a political figure subjected to enforced disappearance and torture, also serves as a stark indicator of the violation of fundamental freedoms.

Indicators for SDG 5 and SDG 10

• For Targets 5.2 and 10.3: The article provides a qualitative indicator by stating that “women, migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers and other minorities” are “disproportionally” affected by systematic abuses. While not a quantitative measure, this observation is a critical indicator of inequality and targeted violence against vulnerable groups.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: icj.org