Libyan Women’s Platform For Peace
طرابلس – ليبيا
March 29, 2013 - 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 combatting such abuse to be submitted to the official authorities.
Amongst the major violations observed are in the following areas:
- 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.
- 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.
- Refusal by the Ministry of the Wounded to treat raped
women as victims of the liberation war.
- Depriving women the right to join the military
institution by a decision from the Chief of Staff.
- Negligence on part of the Executive as regards women
police officers, thus adversely impacting female prisoners and depriving
then any care.
- 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[1].
- 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 rumors; which consequently lead to a
state of lawlessness.
Recommendations:
- Promoting religious discourse in a manner that
highlights human rights and ensures human freedom and dignity.
- Enforcing the rule of law, and obliging the
implementing bodies, mainly the Ministry of the Interior, to abide by the
rulings.
- 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.
- 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 complained against to be an example to all. Let alone helping in
bringing perpetrators of crimes to justice.
- We, thus, recommend the Ministry of Awqaf
(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.
- 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.
Best Regards,
Libyan Women’s Peace Platform
Copy to:
President’s Office of the General National Congress
The Prime Minister
Minister of the Interior
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Minister of Justice