The United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Monday ordering a fact-finding mission to Libya to establish facts and circumstances regarding the human rights situation in the country, reported Al Jazeera.
The mission will investigate violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law committed by all parties to the conflict in Libya.
The mission should also “collect and review relevant information to document alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by all parties in Libya since the beginning of 2016,” the resolution read.
The mission also has a mandate to collect evidence that will ensure that perpetrators of such violations are held accountable.
Earlier this month, the Libyan authorities discovered eight mass graves in the town of Tarhuna, which was under the control of Al-Kani militia, the LAAF’s main western ally, until their withdrawal on June 5. The town was previously occupied by Haftar’s LNA. It served as the main stronghold for the eastern forces in their 14-month campaign to capture the capital Tripoli.
The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) called the mass graves terrifying and assured to investigate the matter.
“UNSMIL notes with horror reports on the discovery of at least eight mass graves in past days, the majority of them in Tarhuna,” UNSMIL tweeted.
More than 150 bodies, including those of women and children, were discovered from the graves.
The Libyan army recently said that it was waiting for a UN report that is expected to expose crimes and genocide committed by Haftar’s LNA in Tarhuna.
Libya’s internationally recognized government, led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, has been under attack by Haftar’s forces since April 2019. More than 1,000 people have lost their lives in the violence so far.
Back in March, the GNA had launched Operation Peace Storm to counter attacks on Tripoli and recently regained strategic locations, including Al-Watiya airbase and Tarhuna.
