EU, UN Agree on Importance of Libya Ceasefire
The United Nations rights office called on Wednesday for an independent investigation into the discovery of mass graves at detention centers in Libya's capital Tripoli as the European Union Ambassador to Libya said he agreed with the UN that 'no effort should be spared to preserve the ceasefire and prevent a return to violence.'
EU Ambassador Nicola Orlando said he discussed with Hanna Tetteh, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Libya and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), 'views on our respective outreach to Libyan and international partners.'
He said they discussed 'the next steps' in the political process facilitated by UNSMIL, 'including how the EU can best support her efforts at this delicate juncture for Libya.'
He 'reiterated the EU's strong backing for her facilitation and commended the renewed sense of urgency she has brought through her consultations.'
Orlando said he 'stressed the need for all key actors to engage constructively with UNSMIL and avoid uncoordinated initiatives.'
Meanwhile, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR ) said it was "shocked" by gross human rights violations uncovered at official and unofficial detention facilities in Libya.
OHCHR said the discovery of dozens of bodies and suspected instruments of torture and abuse confirmed longstanding findings by the UN that human rights violations were committed at such sites.
"We call on the Libyan authorities to conduct independent, impartial and transparent investigations into these discoveries," OHCHR said in a statement. It urged the authorities to preserve evidence and grant Libya's forensic teams, as well as the United Nations, full access to the sites.
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