UN postpones Libya human rights investigation due to lack of funds News
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UN postpones Libya human rights investigation due to lack of funds

The UN adopted a proposal on Tuesday from the Human Rights Council to postpone the investigations into human rights violations in Libya due to lack of funds.

The Human Rights Council established a fact-finding mission in June to identify violations and abuses of human rights “since the beginning of 2016, with a view to prevent further deterioration of the human rights situation, and to ensure accountability.” The mandate was meant to last for one year, but it has been extended to September 2021 due to “the current liquidity crisis affecting the UN Secretariat and the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19.” This is one of several mandates that had to be extended.

Just a few of the mandated activities that had to be postponed include workshops on the consequences of child marriage and the protection of cultural heritage, and seminars on youth and human rights, access to medicines, and development.

Only a day before the postponement, Mohamed Auajjar, the chair of the Fact-Finding Mission on Libya updated the UN on the progress of the mission. In his update, he thanked the Libyan civil society for pressing the country for accountability and emphasized the importance of adequate program budgeting to allow for tangible changes with the extension of the mandate.