WUNRN
STATEMENT FROM THE LIBYAN WOMEN'S PLATFORM FOR PEACE ON WOMEN, PEACE &
SECURITY
In view of the leading
role of Libyan women in the February 15th revolution, and in
recognition of the great sacrifices made by the Libyan people in their quest
for freedom, dignity and rights for both men and women, we regret to have noted
systematic cases of human rights violations especially against women. Generally
speaking, such abuse is either condoned as being in the name of the revolution,
or given religious credence, although unsanctioned by moderate Islam. On
account of this, many human rights activists and civil society organizations
have come together to monitor this situation and make recommendations on
combating such abuse to be submitted to the official authorities.
Amongst the major violations
observed are in the following areas:
1. In the first drafting of
the Election Law which completely overlooked any representation for women, even
the minimal 10% quota. The argument presented was lack of requirements for
equality. Any women representation seen today is the outcome of civil pressure
that led to the change of the Law.
2. Dismissing Sara
Al-Meslaty, a media professional who was assigned to host the ceremony for the
handover of power to the National Congress, the highest legislative power, on
account that she was not wearing the veil.
3. Refusal by the Ministry
of the Wounded to treat raped women as victims of the liberation war.
4. Depriving women the right
to join the military institution by a decision from the Chief of Staff.
5. Negligence on part of the
Executive as regards women police officers, thus adversely impacting female
prisoners and depriving them any care.
6. Refrainment by the
executive bodies to condemn violence against women and bringing the
perpetrators to justice, as in the following incidents:
- Security officers in
Beninah airport in Benghazi harassed Sanaa Al-Mansouri, a media figure, because
she was not wearing the veil.
- Harassment by officers in
the fourth security support unit in Tripoli of Aicha Al-Maghrabi, a university
professor and writer, because she was travelling in a car with her driver,
unchaperoned by a Mehrem.
- A group of armed
men broke into a women’s forum and forcibly pulled out Magdoline Ebeidah, a
civil activist, and abducted her. The women who were present at this forum were
intimidated and threatened. Presently, this activist has received political
asylum in the UK.
- The guards of the
National Congress attacked Mona Al-Bakoush, a civil activist. This, in addition
to the threats to many female activists and media professionals.
- Verbal abuse by a deputy
of the National Congress targeting female Congress members in a plenary. The
argument was that they wore make up, dressed indecently and mingled with men.
7. The Supreme
Constitutional Court amended the law governing marriage and divorce. And based
on an interim constitutional declaration, has removed the restriction on
polygamy, without waiting for the promulgation of the permanent constitution
and the amendment of the personal status law in a comprehensive manner, thus
ensuring adequate safeguards to all parties to the contract, including the
children.
8. The State’s negative
response viz-a-viz the assassinations and the crimes against human rights.
Instead, we see all these politicized fatwas (legal opinion based on
Islamic Law) which overlook such violations and only call for and advocate to
prevent raising any demands of the legitimate rights, which constitute one
major principle of February 17th revolution. This is manifested in
the following instances:
- Neglect of those who died on duty and the
wounded security and army men.
-
Lack of seriousness in the investigations and final judgments, thus leading to
increased rumours; which consequently lead to a state of lawlessness.
Recommendations:
1. Promoting religious
discourse in a manner that highlights human rights and ensures human freedom
and dignity.
2. Enforcing the rule of
law, and obliging the implementing bodies, mainly the Ministry of the Interior,
to abide by the rulings.
3. Holding accountable
whosoever violates the principle of the rule of law in a manner that relates to
rights and freedoms of Libyan men and women.
4. We also recommend a
circulation of a note to all those who work in the security apparatus, calling
them to respect women and do their security work in a professional
non-humiliating manner. The note should also call them to take disciplinary
deterring procedures towards those who complained against to be an example to
all. Let alone helping in bringing perpetrators of crimes to justice.
5. We, thus, recommend the
Ministry of Awaqaf (Endowment) to train and build the capacities of mosque
preachers and prevent them from incitement against women and using a stiff
religious discourse. They should also be trained to follow suite the Prophet in
all aspects, including gentle advising.
6. We further urge the
Supreme Council for Freedoms and Human Rights to necessarily assume its role in
relation to those violations. The work of the Council should not be confined to
the fundamental freedoms, prisons and prisoners, because the communal human
rights touch on the lives of a wide spectrum of people’ it is not any less
important than the limited role it is currently playing.
Failing to respond to these demands and to address such
violations will make Libya internationally accountable, since Libya is still
under Security Council Resolutions No. 1970 & 1973, and the supervision of
the UN Mission, in accordance with Resolution No. 2009.
Libyan Women’s Peace Platform