17th June 2011, Geneva; The Maldives, Qatar, Jordan and UK today secured the adoption, by consensus, of a strong new UN resolution on the human rights situation in Libya. The resolution, adopted at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, condemns the continuing deterioration of the human rights situation in Libya, including ongoing gross and systematic human rights violations, and also expresses concern at armed attacks against civilians. It also extends the mandate of the international Commission of Inquiry into human rights violations in Libya. Speaking following adoption, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Naseem, welcomed the Council's united stand on Libya and the strong message the international community has sent to Muammar Ghadaffi and his associates. "The Maldives was pleased to table this important resolution alongside our friends in Jordan, Qatar and the United Kingdom, and we are delighted it was adopted by consensus. It sends a strong message to Muammar Ghadaffi that his actions are unacceptable; that civilised nations around the world will not stand by as he kills and violates the fundamental rights of thousands of our Muslim brothers and sisters; and that he will, in the end, be held accountable".
Resolution L.8 welcomes the preliminary report of the Commission of Inquiry (CoI) which found evidence of arbitrary killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, torture and sexual violence against women and children. The CoI found that these violations represent war crimes and crimes against humanity. Through the Resolution, the United Nations calls for those responsible to be held accountable for their crimes, including by the International Criminal Court. The international community also calls on the Ghadaffi regime to "immediately cease all violations of human rights, to meet its responsibility to protect its population, to release all those arbitrarily detained and to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access without discrimination".
Significantly, Operative paragraph eleven (OP11) of the Resolution recognises the important position of the Libyan National Transitional Council (NTC) in the new Libya. In OP11, "welcomes the statements made by the Libyan National Transitional Council of its commitment to upholding international human rights law and underlines the importance of implementing such statements". As of today, the Maldives and fourteen other States have recognised the NTC as the sole legitimate body representing the aspirations of the Libyan people.
Operative paragraph seven also sets the framework for future democratic transition in Libya in the post-Ghadaffi era. It "urges the Libyan authorities to respect the popular will, aspirations and demands of its people and, in this context, reiterates its call for an open, inclusive and meaningful national dialogue aimed at systemic changes responding to the will of all Libyan people and at the promotion and protection of their human rights, including the creation of credible and accountable mechanisms for the Libyan people".
Resolution L.8 was cosponsored by a wide cross-regional group including many members of the Organisations of the Islamic Conference, and the Arab Group. Cosponsors included: Palestine, Kuwait, Turkey, Morocco, Botswana, Zambia, the United States, Australia, Canada, Germany, France and Mexico.