Human rights organisations Interights, Human Rights Watch and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, have called upon the African Commission on Human and Peoples' rights to exercise its powers to call on the Libyan government to cease human rights violations. Since protests began on 16th February, HRW have documented human rights abuses which include killings of protesters, shutting down the internet, arresting Libyans who give phone interviews. Please click here to view Interights' press release and joint letter.
The African Commission has issued a press release condemning the use of violence and the repression of peaceful demonstrators in Libya, calling on the Libyan government to put an immediate stop to the violence and to take measures to allow people the right to demonstrate peacefully. Please click here to view the press release (in French).
Meanwhile the UN Security Council has passed a unanimous resolution to refer Libya to the International Criminal Court, impose travel bans on key Libyan leaders and freeze their assets. The UN General Assembly has suspended Libya from the Human Rights Council for "gross and systematic human rights violation". Please click here to view the ICC press release.
Amnesty International Ireland has called on the international community, including Ireland, to help Tunisia and other states accepting those fleeing Libya. Please click here to view their press release.