Ref: Al-monitor THE STATUS OF WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS IN LIBYA The Status of Women Human Rights Defenders in Libya التحالف اﻹقليمي للمدافعات عن حقوق اﻹنسان في شرق اﻻوسط و شمال أفريقيا THE WHRD COALITION IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Researcher: Hana Farhat Proofreading: Sawssan Abou Zahr Designer: Athar al-Aghar www.whrdmena.org www.facebook.com/whrdmena www.twitter.com/whrdmena 2 «One month ago, they tried to assassinate my son…he was driving my car, so maybe they want me. Maybe they want my family ...but this is not about Salwa – you know, there are many, many activists ... [that they have] «.targeted التحالف اﻹقليمي للمدافعات عن حقوق اﻹنسان في شرق اﻻوسط و شمال أفريقيا Bugaighis speaking on the National Public Radio a few weeks before her death in 2014.1 1. J. Giovanni, “Mother of Libya’s Revolution Killed,”Newsweek, 7 November 2014. Available online: http:// europe.newsweek.com/mother-libyas-revolution-murdered260375-?rm=eu[Accessed 15 September 2016) 3 The Status of Women Human Rights Defenders in Libya Salwa Bugaighis was a prominent lawyer and Woman Human Rights Defender in Libya.She was instrumental during the Libyan revolution of 2011, following a career in defending political 17 demonstration of 2011 theprisoners National under Transitional Qaddafi’s Council, regime. the She uprising›s helped organise political the wing, February Salwa was vice-president of ain preparatory Benghazi, one committee of the first for protests national that dialogue ignited in the Libya.She political was uprising.As assassinated former in her member house of in Benghazi by unknown hooded men wearing military uniform on the 25thof June, 2014, on the same day as the elections for the House of Representatives. The killing of Salwa is one of many cases of violent attacks against Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) in Libya, following the uprising that soon turned into a full-scale civil war. and in their communities, whether as individuals or through NGOs. However, the country hasWomen marginalized who took manyto the women streets andhave WHRDs also played who influentialwere active roles during in the the political 2011 uprising. arena Thedeteriorating security situation and the rise of extremis has threatened women’s liberties and their efforts to transition Libya to a more democratic state.2 The Regional Coalition of Women Human Rights Defenders in the MENA (WHRD-MENA Coalition) strongly emphasizes the brave work of WHRDs in Libya and their role in documenting violations, campaigning for equality and participating in the political transition of Libya. The WHRD-MENA Coalition is deeply concerned about the violence directed against WHRDs, particularly against women lawyers and journalists. This paper analyzes the situation of WHRDs in Libya. It aims to highlight the instability in the country and its consequences on women and WHRDs. The chaos that Libya is currently undergoing has marginalized women and WHRDs who are active in the public sphere. In order to operatingunderstand independently the context that of each Libyan other.Women women are have living been in, the involved paper inwill the first post discuss war transition the political ondevelopments the political after and socialthe fall levels.However, of Qaddafi that gender- has left basedLibya fragmentedviolence and with discriminationremain many “mini Libyas” an issue.Furthermore, the rise of religious extremism and their hold on Libyan society has vacuum of the weak state, and theyhave imposed restriction on thousands of women.The paper willoppressed address women. these abuses Religious and conservative shed light on groups, women’s as wellexperiences. as other Women’sarmed groups, voices have cannot filled be the lost under the pretext of security. 2. What Women Say, From Subject to Citizens: Women in Post-Revolutionary Libya, International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN), (2013) http://www.icanpeacework.org/wp-content/uploads/12/2013/ libya-dec3.pdf [Accessed 27 January 2017] 4 Ref.: AFP-Getty Images Libya After Qaddafi The Status of Women Human Rights Defenders in Libya Inspired by the revolutions of Tunisia and Egypt, in February 2011, Libyans went out to protest 2011, theQaddafi’s North regimeAtlantic in Treaty the city Organization of Benghazi. (NATO) As the intervenedregime attempted under ato mandate suppress of the the resistance, UN Security Councilviolence Resolution soon escalated 2011 between) 1973). Thisdemonstrators resulted in and NATO-led forces airstrikesloyal to Qaddafi. to support In March the protesters, his hometown of Sirte, was captured and killed in October 2011.3 who werethus able to gain control of Tripoli, Libya’s capital city. Qaddafi, who escapedand hid in On February 2011 ,17, the National Transitional Council (NTC) was established, becoming the de facto government of Libya. In turn, the NTC handed power over to the General National Congress (GNC), which was elected in the summer of 2012.4 2012 were followed by 42Unfortunately, the toppling of Qaddafi and the democratic elections of riseyears of of violence turmoil. and To thispolitical day, instability.political factions are fighting over power, resources and loyalty. The years of Qaddafi rule had left many state institutions weak, only to be further crushed by the One issue during the transitional period was integrating the armed groups who participated controlin overthrowingthe of some areas. Qaddafi Some regimearmed groupsinto the were army allied or the with police the force. government, Such integration and were proved said to be underdifficult, the with authority many armedof the Ministry groups retaining of Justice, their Ministry independence of Defense from and theMinistry state andof Interior, remaining which in granted them the power to run certain areas. Yet the state often had little control over some of these groups.5 Other groups rejected the central authority.6 been shaped by these ongoing tensions and competition for power at the local and national levels. Therefore, post-Qaddafi Libya has 3. UNSCR, 2014 Civil Society Monitoring Report, http://togetherwebuildit.org/wp/unscr-1325-monitoring- report-on-libya-our-work [Accessed 27 January 2017] 4. Ibid. 5 23 February 2016, A/HRC/31/CRP.3). p. 16. See also http://www.landinfo.no/ asset/. Human1_3025 Rights/1/ Council,3025.pdf Investigation by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 6on. http://www.landinfo.no/asset/ Libya: detailed findings ( 1_3025/1/3025.pdf 6 In June 2014, elections were held, and the international community recognized the new House of Representatives, which included moderates, liberals and federalists. However, the Islamist political parties rejected the elections, and in August 2014, they seized control of Tripoli.7 The House of Representatives relocated eastwards in Tobruk, while the Islamist government settled in Tripoli.8 Political factions opposed to the Tobruk- based House of Representatives declared the self-proclaimed Government of National Salvation (GNS), based in Tripoli. The GNS, which has links to the Muslim Brotherhood, elected Islamist-backed Omar al-Hassi as prime minister in August 2014 ,25. The parallel governments run different regions of the county and are engaged in an ongoing 9 Ref.: REUTERS conflict over legitimacy and power. On November 2014 ,6, Libya’s Supreme Court declared that the internationally recognized parliament is unconstitutional, resulting in further instability.10 Clashes between armed groups reached its peak in 2014, and the years 2015-2014 witnessed outbreaks of hostilities in East, West and South of Libya. In addition, the rise of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014 has further plunged the country into chaos with groups pledging allegiance especially in Derne, Sitre and Benghazi.11 According to the Libya Body Count, 2014 marked the bloodiest year for the country, with 2825 deaths.12 التحالف اﻹقليمي للمدافعات عن حقوق اﻹنسان في شرق اﻻوسط و شمال أفريقيا 7. UNSCR, 2014 Civil Society Monitoring Report, http://togetherwebuildit.org/wp/unscr-1325-monitoring- report-on-libya-our-work/ 8. Al Jazeera, “Libya’s Tobruk-Based Government Attacks Tripoli Airport,” http://www.aljazeera.com/ news/04/2015/libya-tobruk-based-government-attacks-tripoli-airport150415130719497-.html 9. Reuters, “Libya’s Ex-Parliament Reconvenes, Appoints Omar al Hasi as PM,” Aug. 2014 ,25 http://in.reuters. com/article/libya-security-parliaments-idINKBN0GP18O20140825 10. “Libya Faces Chaos as Top Court Rejects Elected Assembly,” Reuters, Nov. 2014 ,6 http://www.reuters.com/ article/us-libya-security-parliament-idUSKBN0IQ0YF20141106 [Accessed 27 Jan 2017] 11 23 February 2016, A/HRC/31/CRP.3). Ibid., p. 19; See also http://www.bbc. com/news/world-middle-east. Human Rights Council, Investigation19744533 by- the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human 12Rights. Libya on BodyLibya: Count, detailed Deaths findings by date, ( 2016) ,2014). Available online:http://www.libyabodycount.org[Accessed 7 10 September 2016] The Status of Women Human Rights Defenders in Libya To understand everyday life in Libya, it is therefore important to comprehend the complexities of the situation on the ground. Libya does not have a distinct system of state security and opposition forces. Rather, it has a complex network of armed actors who are either allied with the state, and Operation Dignity, reveal the multitude of warring groups.13 Operation Dignity was led by aopposed coalition to of it, militias or having and tribal members affiliations. that include The two the main Libyan military National campaigns, Army and the that Libya support Dawn the House of Representatives in Eastern Libya. The Libya Dawn is a coalition of militias from cities and towns in Western Libya who seized control of Tripoli.14 In other parts of Libya, armed groups are also imposing their own authority and agendas.15 on Foreign Relations has reported that in 2015, about 1,700 armed groups are actively present in Libya.16 The Global Conflict Tracker of the Council All sides of the conflict have committed human rights violations. Both state and non-state actors breakdownwho are engaged of Libya’s in the criminal conflict justice continue system.