A/HRC/43/75 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted to the Human Rights Council pursuant to resolution 40/27, in which the Council requested the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to present a report on the situation of human rights in Libya, including on the implementation of technical assistance and capacity-building to support the efforts of the Government of National Accord to prevent and ensure accountability for human rights violations. 2. The report, which covers the period from January to December 2019, was prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) in cooperation with the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL). It focuses on six priority areas, namely the protection of civilians in armed conflict, in particular its impact upon women and children; the situation of migrants and refugees; the rights to freedom of opinion and expression; support for victims of human rights violations; the administration of justice; and the implementation of the human rights due diligence policy on United Nations support to nonUnited Nations security forces. The report also provides an overview of the monitoring, documentation, advocacy and capacity-building carried out by UNSMIL/OHCHR to address those issues. 3. During the period under review, OHCHR continued to provide support to the human rights mandate of UNSMIL. II. Context 4. The year began with an offensive of the Libyan National Army forces under the command of General Khalifa Haftar. LNA entered Sabhah in January, proceeding towards Murzuq, where it and its affiliates encountered resistance from local Tebu groups. During clashes on 22 February, approximately 50 people1 were reportedly killed and 200 houses damaged in the southern region. 5. On 12 February, the Libyan National Army gained control of the remaining part of the old city of Derna following intense fighting with remnants of the Derna Protection Force in eastern Libya. Serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights abuses, including the summary execution of combatants and civilian detainees, were reportedly committed by affiliates of the Libyan National Army. More than 100 bodies were recovered from the old city, including those of women and children (S/2019/682, para. 25). Moreover, the Libyan National Army affiliates reportedly launched a broad intimidation campaign inside the city, targeting the families and perceived associates of members of the Derna Protection Force (ibid., para. 46). Arbitrary arrests and the forced displacement of civilians continued. 6. On 4 April, the Libyan National Army launched an offensive on Tripoli, preventing the holding of the national conference facilitated by the United Nations, scheduled from 14 to 16 April, and returning the country to renewed conflict. The offensive forced the Government of National Accord to mobilize its armed forces against the attack. Since 4 April, fighting between the Libyan National Army forces and the Government of National Accord has continued in and around Tripoli, with serious human rights abuses and violations and violations of international humanitarian law committed by all parties, with total impunity. In July, the conflict spread beyond the capital, with air and drone strikes against Misrata, Sirte and Jufra. Since May, the conflict in southern Tripoli has escalated, with intensified airstrikes by fixed-wing aircraft and armed unmanned aerial vehicles, and 1 2 Owing to constraints access to certain locations and the displacement of the local population, including local interlocutors, UNSMIL was not able to verify the civilian status of victims.