A/HRC/43/75
31.
Guards in prisons and detention centres continued to sexually abuse Libyan and
foreign women inmates. UNSMIL/OHCHR is concerned about the absence of female
guards in prisons and detention centres across the country. With the exception of Jdayda
Women’s Prison in Tripoli, no other detention facilities employ female guards. This
situation is compounded by the unimpeded access of male guards to the cells of female
inmates, which increases the risk of sexual abuse and exploitation. UNSMIL/OHCHR
continued to receive alarming reports of sexual violence in prisons and detention centres
against women, men and boys, including allegations of sexual violence and rape at Mitiga
prison by the Special Deterrence Force (an armed group falling nominally under the
responsibility of the Ministry of the Interior).
32.
UNSMIL/OHCHR reiterates that it is imperative for the Government of National
Accord to fully fund and implement the national action plan on Security Council resolution
1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, to protect women and girls from violence in
law, policy and practice.
V.
Groups in focus
A.
Children
33.
Between 1 January and 30 November, the armed conflict resulted in 77 child
casualties (35 deaths and 42 injured) from the use of indiscriminate weapons, including
mortars, rockets, grenades, explosive remnants of war and airstrikes in civilian-populated
areas.
34.
On 4 February, in the Kuweifiya area of Benghazi, three boys, aged between 9 and
15 years, were injured when an unexploded explosive ordnance detonated when they were
collecting scrap metal. During the night of 17 February, in Murzuq, an unattributed
airstrike on the Zawiat Zala complex killed a civilian man and injured two children. On 5
March, also in Murzuq, an unidentified armed group fired a rocket at a group of civilians
watching a football game, killing three boys and injuring four others. On 8 April, in Qasr
Bin Ghashir, five children were injured by a mortar round that dropped beside a tent where
a funeral was being held. On 28 November, Libyan National Army airstrikes in Um alAraneb killed 10 children and seriously injured six other children.
35.
UNSMIL/OHCHR has received reports of children arbitrarily detained and deprived
of liberty, including in several detention centres and prisons, without charge or trial, on
account of their alleged family’s links with Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)
fighters. UNSMIL/OHCHR followed up on the cases of 62 children held at Al Jawiya
prison, whose mothers were reportedly charged with membership of ISIL.
UNSMIL/OHCHR is concerned regarding reports that these children may be subjected to
arbitrary detention, together with a lack of medical care, hygiene and proper food. At the
end of October, eight unaccompanied children from Egypt and Tunisia remained at the
Libyan Red Crescent shelter in Misrata following their transfer from Sirte in late 2016, in
the context of military operations against groups that had pledged allegiance to ISIL.
B.
Migrants and refugees
36.
Migrants and refugees in Libya continued to be routinely subjected to arbitrary
detention, torture, including sexual violence, abduction for ransom, extortion, forced labour
and unlawful killings. Perpetrators of these violations and abuses have in an overwhelming
number of cases not been held to account, and include State officials, members of armed
groups, smugglers, traffickers and members of criminal gangs.
37.
As at 29 November, 4,500 migrants and refugees, including hundreds of children,
were being held without any judicial process in official detention centres run by the
Government and in unofficial detention centres controlled by armed groups. Among them,
7
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