On Wednesday, 23 November 2011, the
Independent Civil Society Mission to Libya concluded its work. The Mission was
organised by the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), the Arab
Organization for Human Rights (AOHR), and the International Legal Aid
Consortium (ILAC). It comprised two distinct units, a Training Team, and a
Fact-Finding Mission.
On Tuesday, 22 November, the Mission
participated in an awards ceremony held at il
fonduq il ikbeer in Tripoli. The ceremony was held in conjunction with the
Tripoli Bar Association, and certificates were awarded to the training course
participants. The Tripoli Bar Association also formally recognised the work of
the Mission, and ILAC, PCHR, and the AOHR.
The Mission wish to thank the
assistance extended to them during their visit, in particular by the host
organisation, and national and regional authorities.
The Fact-Finding Mission
The Fact-Finding Mission was
composed of a number of leading lawyers and jurists with expertise in
international human rights law, international criminal law, and the law of
armed conflict. Its members include: Raji Sourani, Dr. Ameen Mekki Madani,
Mohsin Awad, Ameena Abu Aish, Agnetta Johansson, William Meryer, and Daragh
Murray. The Mission identified three principal subjects for investigation:
potential violations of international law committed by the former government;
potential violations of international committed by the former rebels and
current authorities, including de facto
authorities, from 17 February; and potential violations of international law
committed by NATO.
While in Libya, the Mission met with
witnesses, victims, members of the armed forces and armed groups, and members
of the current political establishment. The Mission conducted a number of field
visits, inter alia, to Tripoli,
Azzawiya, Khoms, Zleitn, Misrata, Tawergha, and Sirte. The Mission also visited
current and former detention facilities, and met with representatives of the
Tripoli and Libyan Bar Association, and with the Minister of Justice.
The Fact-Finding Mission is
currently preparing an in-depth report on its visit, including its observations
and recommendations. This Report will be presented at a press conference in
Cairo in December.
Members of the Mission:
– Raji
Sourani is a lawyer, and Director of PCHR;
– Dr.
Ameen Mekki Madani is a prominent lawyer from Sudan, and former President of
the Arab Organization for Human Rights;
– Mohsin
Awad is former Secretary-General of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, a
member of the Egyptian Human Rights Council, and a prominent human rights
activists and researcher;
– Ameena
Abu Aish is president of the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights;
– Agnetta
Johansson is a lawyer and Deputy Director of the International Legal Aid
Consortium;
– William
Meryer is a lawyer and president of the International Legal Aid Consortium;
– Daragh
Murray is a Government of Ireland IRCHSS Scholar, and International Legal
Officer at PCHR.
The Training Team
The Training Team was comprised of
experienced trainers from PCHR, AOHR, as well as Arab and foreign experts.
Those participating in seminars included: Raji Sourani, PCHR Director; Iyad
al-Alami, Advocate and PCHR Deputy Director for Administrative and Legal Affairs, and Head
of Legal Unit at PCHR, Bassam Al-Aqra, head of PCHR’s Training Unit; Ibtissam
Zarqout, head of PCHR’s Field Work Unit; Mahmoud Franji, PCHR Democratic
Development Unit; Mutaz Uthmann, Director AOHR Legal Unit; and Islam Abu
El-Enein, AOHR Researcher. Participating experts included, Dr. Ameen Mekki
Medanee, Agnetta Johansson, William Meryer, and Ameena Abu Aish.
The first 3-day training session
targeted lawyers, and human rights defenders, and featured modules including:
An Introduction to Human Rights; Human Rights Concepts, Terminology, and
Instruments; Mechanisms of Human Rights Protection at the National Level; An
Introduction to International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal
Justice; The Rome Statue and the International Criminal Court; Transitional
Justice; Prosecution of War Criminals; Monitoring and Documentation; Monitoring
and Documentation in Practice; and the Preparation of Human Rights Reports.
The second 3-day training session
targeted judges, prosecutors, and members of the law enforcement agencies.
Modules included: an introduction to human rights concepts, such as:
terminology and instruments; International Bill of Human Rights; mechanisms of
human rights protection at the national level; an introduction to international
humanitarian law and international criminal justice; the Rome Statute and the
International Criminal Court; transitional justice; prosecution of war
criminals and universal jurisdiction; the rule of law; separation of powers;
guarantees of fair trial; and the role of the lawyers and judiciary, including
judges, members of the Office of the Prosecutor, and law enforcement officials
in protecting human rights.
Related Press Releases:
Independent Civil Society Mission to Libya Concludes First Training Session
Independent Civil Society Mission to Libya Begins
