Human Rights Council Moves to Suspend Libya

25th February 2011, Geneva;The United Nations Human Rights Council, the world's pre-eminent organ charged with promoting and protecting human rights today took the historic step of moving to suspend one of its members - Libya - because of its gross and systematic violation of human rights. In a Special (emergency) Session convened by the Maldives and others, the Council decided, by consensus, to express its outrage at recent human rights violations in Libya, to establish a commission of enquiry to investigate such violations and ensure accountability, and to recommend to the UN General Assembly to suspend the Libyan authorities from membership of the Human Rights Council. This is the first time that the Council has taken such a measure against a State and sends a strong message to Muammar Gaddafi and his government that their actions are unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the international community. The Maldives, a Member of the Council, played a central role in convening the Special Session and in drafting, negotiating and mobilizing support behind the Resolution.

Speaking after the vote, H.E. Ambassador Iruthisham Adam, said: "Today is an historic day for the UN - the first time that the Human Rights Council has recommended the suspension of one of its members. Through this step and the other actions foreseen in the Resolution, the international community has sent a very strong message to Muammar Gaddafi and has followed this up with strong actions designed to support the people of Libya. I am proud that the Maldives, led by H.E. President Nasheed and State Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Naseem, has played such a key leadership role in mobilizing the international community in this way - in support of our Muslim brothers and sisters in Libya. I am also pleased that we were able to adopt the resolution by consensus - a remarkable and important achievement".

ENDS