[JURIST] The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) [official website] released [press release] a peace proposal on Tuesday in effort to end the country’s political instability and “deteriorating military situation.” Among many ideas offered, UNSMIL proposed the creation of a unity government “composed of independent personalities not belonging to any party or affiliated with any group.” The proposal also encouraged the formation of a High State Council, as well as a House of Representatives “representing all Libyans under the full application of principles of legitimacy and inclusion.” Most importantly, stated UNSMIL, the end of violence in Libya is the responsibility of the Libyans themselves. The proposal calls on all parties involved to keep and open mind and flexible approach as discussions continue in effort to curb conflict.

Libya remains politically unstable nearly four years after the 2011 uprising [JURIST backgrounder] and subsequent civil war that deposed Muammar Gaddafi. Much of the escalating violence in Libya is attributable to the Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). The group has caused increasing international alarm over its human rights abuses [JURIST report] since its insurgence into Syria and Iraq in 2013. In March, the head of the UNSMIL warned the UN Security Council [official website] that without intervention from the international community and UN, Libya is likely to become unstable [JURIST report] in the wake of repeated terrorist attacks. In February the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned [JURIST report] the group’s beheading of 21 Coptic Christians in Libya. Also in February HRW released a report [text, PDF] detailing the violent attacks on Libyan journalists [JURIST report] by various armed groups over the past two years.