2 June 2011, Geneva;The Maldives, UK, Qatar and Jordan this week launched negotiations at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on a new UN resolution to establish accountability for the gross and systematic human rights violations committed by the regime of Muammar Ghadaffi. The resolution which is supported by a wide cross-regional group including France, Turkey and the US, will extend the mandate of a UN Commission of Inquiry which is investigating human rights abuses in Libya. The draft text also enjoys the support of the Libyan delegation to the UN in Geneva - the delegation has allied itself to the Transitional National Council.
The Commission of Inquiry, which was initially established following a Human Rights Council Special Session on Libya cosponsored by the Maldives, recently released some initial findings which include the conclusion that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed.
The first round of negotiations on the text will take place on Friday 3rd June. The text aims to be adopted later in the month.
ENDS