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U.N. human rights chief urges investigations after bodies found in Libyan detention sites
Summary
The U.N. high commissioner for human rights reported discovery of dozens of bodies in official and unofficial detention centers in Libya and called for prompt, impartial investigations and full access for forensic authorities and the U.N.
The U.N. human rights chief has called on Libyan authorities to investigate reports that dozens of bodies were found in official and unofficial detention sites and to grant full access to forensic teams and the United Nations to document alleged violations.
The spokesperson relayed the statement attributed to Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, saying the discoveries "confirmed the long standing findings by our U.N. political mission in Libya as well as U.N. fact finding mission in Libya and various witness accounts" and cited accounts of torture and enforced disappearances.
The high commissioner, the briefing said, expressed concern that Libya's forensic authorities have not been granted access to the sites and urged prompt, independent, impartial and transparent investigations. The U.N. also called for granting U.N. personnel access to document human rights violations as part of their mandate.
Why it matters: allegations of unlawful detention, torture and undisclosed deaths raise serious human-rights concerns and may require forensic investigation and accountability measures. The U.N. message asks Libyan authorities to permit independent documentation and investigation.
