Nov 8, 2021
Benghazi October 30
A discussion session was held in Benghazi city about the National Initiative for the drafting of a “document respecting freedom of expression and the independence of media institutions”. A group of journalists and academics attended the discussion session to discuss their vision for the structural and legal reform of the Libyan media sector. The session was organized by the Libyan Center for Freedom of Press (LCFP) in partnership with lecturers from the Faculty of Media, University of Benghazi
The participants discussed the legal framework required to regulate the radio and television work in accordance with international standards. They tackled the right to freedom of expression and the importance of enhancing the protection of reputation and privacy. They also discussed the responsibilities of the Libyan legislator towards the media sector and the importance of enacting new laws by the upcoming legislative authority
The participants stressed the need for drafting a law establishing the High Constitutional Committee for media in accordance with Article 174 of the constitution, chapter Constitutional Bodies. Article 174 provides for the establishment of the High Media Council as an independent authority over which only the judiciary has authority. The Council’s mission is to regulate the media sector. The participants agreed on the responsibility of the legislator in regulating the Sector by approving the bills of law that are being worked on
It is important to require private media institutions to disclose their sources of funding. The owners of private media institutions should be asked to provide adequate salaries, social coverage, medical insurance and compensation in cases of accidents, diseases and disabilities in conflict areas
The participants stressed the need to distinguish between the right to freedom of expression and the use of hate speech in the media or social media platforms. Legal texts should deter the use of words that fuel incitement and violence. There is a need to develop clear definitions of types of cybercrimes, and to ensure that stakeholders do not exploit cybercrime law to abuse their powers and prosecute activists and journalists
The participants agreed that it is necessary to have an independent national union to play its role in defending the rights of journalists and to issue a “professional journalist card”
This eighth session comes within the National Initiative for the drafting of a document respecting freedom of expression and the independence of media institutions, to which signatures will be collected from candidates to the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. It will be a pledge to work with journalists and civil society when deliberating on new bills
Oct 14, 2021
Sebha/October 11
A new discussion session was held in Sebha city within the National Initiative for the drafting of a “document respecting freedom of expression and the independence of media institutions”. Twenty-eight journalists, television correspondents, academics, lawyers, activists and media professionals took part in the Session. They discussed the need for media practices to be based on national legislations that promote independence and liberty
The participants agreed that it is necessary to draft a law to establish the High Media Council. It should be independent from the executive government. It should be responsible for managing and reorganizing the media sector and public media institutions. It should also reorganize radio and television broadcast, grant licenses to private media institutions and oblige them to disclose their funding sources, and make them respect the regulations and standards the National Media Foundation sets. The National Media Foundation is the highest independent authority. Its role is regulation. The members of its board of directors have the necessary expertise
The participants focused on the need to protect reputation and privacy. It is necessary according to them, to set executive regulations to ensure that media institutions are not involved in spreading rumors and biased news that harm the reputation of others. In addition, the general sanction procedures related to publishing issues should be reformed. The participants agreed that respect should prevail between political actors. Freedom of expression is a sacred right that is a part of the national constants. However, it should not threaten civil peace, public health or public order. Government officials will be bound to disclose information through the ratification of the law on access to information by the coming legislative authority
The participants also highlighted the need to monitor and oversee press and digital content. It is necessary to focus on combating disinformation, hate speech, rumors and spreading of destructive ideas on social media. Internet should be regulated in order to enhance its position as a free digital space
The participants find it imperative to develop educational curricula for Libyan media colleges, to develop media laboratories and to enhance their technical capacities. They also called on the candidates to the upcoming national elections to pledge to work with civil society and journalists on draft laws related to press and publishing. They also have to work on the law of the National Media Foundation, which is being prepared by experts in the field of media and law in the National Committee for reviewing media draft laws administered by the Libyan Organization for Independent Media
The participants emphasized the need for legal and institutional support that goes in line with the challenges facing the Libyan state. It is necessary to respect freedom of expression and independence of media, establishing a national project and unifying media discourse under the umbrella of professionalism, objectivity, quality and efficiency. It is also necessary to have legal texts that explicitly provide for the protection of media professionals
At the end, the participants stressed the need to respect the cultures and characteristics of the Libyan society components. They all have the right to broadcast in their own language and to convey their voice to the Libyans
Oct 12, 2021
11 October 2021
A semi-annual update on the human rights situation in Libya, published today by the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and the Libya Platform, finds evidence of continued systemic and grave human rights violations in the country, including at the hands of armed groups affiliated with state and security institutions and in complete impunity
Between January and June 2021, our organisations documented no less than 25 extrajudicial killings, 33 enforced disappearances, and 42 attacks against civilians or indiscriminate civilian casualties, including 16 children – a non-exhaustive number of violations – as part of an effort to identify victims and suspected perpetrators, and contribute to combatting pervasive impunity. Previous updates were published in June 2020, November 2020 and March 2021. The organisations’ submission to Libya’s Universal Periodic Report also included documentation of violations between 2015 and 2019
This periodic update, released a few months before scheduled elections, warns of the threat posed by the deteriorating human rights situation to the legitimacy of elections. The release of the update comes the day after the 48th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council voted to renew the mandate of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Libya. The update had highlighted the need to renew the mission’s mandate, as it is an essential source of documentation and evidence to ensure accountability for perpetrators and reparation for victims
The update used information shared by the 16 members of the Libya Platform and other partner organisations, verified with relevant local contacts such as victims and/or members of their family, witnesses, hospital staff, lawyers, and local activists, to present documentation on extrajudicial killings and inhuman treatment, attacks against civilians and indiscriminate civilian casualties, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention, violations against migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers, and restrictions of public freedoms. 523 interviews with local sources were carried out by CIHRS and the Libya Platform, including interviews with victims, victims’ family or direct witnesses
The update especially highlights the abject situation of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in the country, and calls on European Member States and institutions to halt any agreement facilitating illegal pushbacks and pullbacks, to stop supporting Libyan parties involved in grave violations, and to make any co-operation with Libyan authorities conditional on the implementation of concrete measures to protect migrants and refugees’ rights, such as the adoption of asylum legislation and the end of unlawful detention
The update also condemned any attempts to disrupt the political process and warned of the danger of attacks on journalists and civil society. Ahead of elections, the update called on Libyan authorities to repeal arbitrary executive decisions and laws infringing on public freedoms, notably Decree 286 governing civil society, ensure civil society can independently monitor elections and judicial authorities can safely and independently process appeals. The international community must press Libyan parties to adhere to the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) Roadmap and the appended Key Principles for human rights to ensure that conditions are in place for free and fair elections to be held
Furthermore, CIHRS and the Libya Platform reiterated their call for UN member states to press Libyan authorities to urgently put in place a comprehensive strategy for the vetting of members of armed groups and organise their disbandment, disarmament and individual reintegration
english update
Oct 12, 2021
Misrata/October 9
A new discussion session was held in the city of Misrata within the National Initiative for the drafting of a “document respecting freedom of expression and the independence of media institutions”. Twenty journalists, television correspondents, academics and legal professionals participated in the Session. The discussion was mainly about the need for media practices to be regulated by national legislations that enhance independence and freedom.
The participants agreed on the necessity of providing a draft law to set up the National Media Foundation that is independent from the executive government and is responsible for managing and reorganizing the media sector and public media. It should also reorganize radio and television broadcast, grant licenses to private media institutions and oblige them to disclose their funding sources, and make them respect the regulations and standards it sets. The National Media Foundation is the highest independent authority. Its role is regulation. The members of its board of directors have the necessary expertise.
The participants focused on the need to protect reputation and privacy. It is necessary according to them, to set executive regulations to ensure that media institutions are not involved in spreading rumors and biased news that harm the reputation of others. In addition, the Foundation should reform the general sanction procedures related to publishing issues. The participants agreed that respect should prevail between political actors. Freedom of expression is a sacred right that is a part of the national constants. However, it should not threaten civil peace, public health or public order. Government officials will be bound to disclose information through the law on access to information to be adopted by the coming legislative authority.
The participants also highlighted the need to activate monitoring and oversight on press and digital content. It is necessary to focus on combating disinformation, hate speech, rumors and spreading for destructive ideas on social media. Internet should be regulated in order to enhance its position as a free digital space.
The participants find it imperative to develop educational curricula for Libyan media colleges, to develop media laboratories and to enhance their technical capacities. They also called on the candidates to the upcoming national elections to pledge to work with civil society and journalists on draft laws related to press and publishing. They also have to work on the law of the National Media Foundation, which is being prepared by experts in the field of media and law in the National Committee for reviewing media draft laws administered by the Libyan Organization for Independent Media.
Oct 6, 2021
Press release The undersigned human rights groups announce the proposal of a new draft law regulating civil work in Libya; the proposed law would guarantee civil society’s independence and freedom. We call on Libya’s civil society organizations to review and adopt this proposal, and pressure for its swift approval. We welcome any comments, suggestions, or feedback to improve the draft law, and affirm the law’s commitment to international standards for freedom of association and peaceful assembly
The undersigned groups are prepared for a public debate on the draft law through urgent hearings in which civil society organizations participate and review the proposed law and its explanatory memorandum This represents a push for the immediate issuance of a law on associations that complies with international standards for freedom of association. The law would also represent a departure from the authoritarian practices under which civil society in Libya has been suppressed, despite the passage of over a decade since the revolution of the Libyan people for freedom and democracy
The proposed draft law guarantees the independence of civil society organizations from the state and its administrative bodies Currently, associations in Libya are struggling to unshackle themselves from the repression of the country’s governing authorities. This repression includes concerted efforts to nationalize civil society and deprive it of independence and freedom to work. Moreover, the draft law emphasizes the importance of the operational transparency of these organizations and their practices, including their activities and funding sources. The proposed law also requires the registration of associations and non-governmental organizations by notification only, and guarantees the freedom to work and form or join local and international networks and alliances
The draft law is a culmination of Libyan civil society’s persistent efforts, ongoing since 2011, to push Libyan state institutions and successive governments to abandon Gaddafi’s authoritarian legal arsenal, especially the Civil Associations Law no. 19 of 2001, which is reflective of the perspective and policies of a dictatorship lacking in any consideration for freedoms and human rights
Libyan civil society participated in the 2013 consultations with the Ministry of Culture and Civil Society to prepare a new draft law to regulate associations, yet the proposal arising from these consultations remains unknown, and has not yet been issued. In 2016, human rights organizations participated in the revision of the draft law on associations, which was proposed by the legislative authority at the time, and despite the submission of the revised version to the House of Representatives in 2017, which was entirely disregarded
Nevertheless, the new proposed law on civil society differs from its predecessors in that it is subjected to scrutiny and examination by many legal experts, judges, and human rights defenders. The proposed law is the result of a meticulous study of experiences and legislation in the region and internationally, in regards to the regulation of civil society’s work. Thus the proposed law benefits from similar legislative proposals submitted by human rights organizations to ensure the independence and freedom of civil society in their countries
16 organizations and 4 public figures submitted this proposed new draft law and are looking forward to presenting it before members of the House of Representatives and representatives of the legislative authority in Libya, with the aim of pushing for the issuance of a new law on associations. Under the proposed law, the tribulations of civil society in Libya would come to an end, ensuring Libyan associations’ ability to perform their role in monitoring and following up on public affairs within a just legal framework that guarantees the independence and freedom of civil society
Accordingly, the signatory organizations renew their call for all Libyan organizations to review the proposed draft law and send their feedback on it, in order to partake in creating legislation that is based upon genuine consensus and guarantees the independence and freedom of civil society in Libya
Signatory organizations
- Defender Center for Human Rights (DCHR)
- The Libyan Organization for Independent Media
- Belady Center
- The Independent Organization for Human Rights in Libya
- Libya al-Moustakbal Center
- Jurists Without Chains
- The Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace
- Adala For All
- The Libyan Judges Organization
- The Libyan Center For Freedom Of Press
- Youth Organization for Tawergha
- Libyan Network for Legal Aid
- Al-Zawiya Center for Human Rights
- Aman Organization Against Discrimination
- Libyan Crimes Watch
- The Libyan Group to Monitor Human Rights Violations
Public figures
- Azza Maghur
- Salah Marghani
- Marwan Tashani
- Wael bin Ismail
