A/HRC/40/46 D. Support to victims and capacity-building 47. UNSMIL/OHCHR worked to directly support victims and their relatives by advocating with the Government and other counterparts, regularly briefing the international community and engaging with United Nations human rights mechanisms. 48. Between 7 and 10 May, in Tripoli, UNSMIL organized workshops for human rights defenders and lawyers to enhance their knowledge and expertise of human rights monitoring and reporting techniques and the use of international human rights mechanisms, including special procedures. 49. On 12 May, UNSMIL facilitated a workshop to improve coordination among national civil society organizations working on the human rights of migrants and extending their work to cover remote locations within Libya. The meeting led to the establishment of a coalition, the Rights Group for Migration, which aims at improving monitoring of detention facilities, raising community awareness and enhancing the capacities of civil society. 50. Between 17 and 19 April, UNSMIL organized a workshop on legal aid and psychological rehabilitation for victims of human rights violations in Libya, gathering 25 participants engaged in the protection and promotion of human rights in Libya and/or providing direct support to survivors. Participants discussed and agreed on concrete steps to improve referral systems and service provision for survivors. 51. On 4 September, UNSMIL brought together Libyan human rights NGOs and members of the international community to discuss ways to address legal, policy and operational challenges faced by human rights NGOs in Libya. 52. Media professionals, activists and human rights defenders at risk in Libya lacked financial and other essential support and other protections to enable them to conduct their work safely and efficiently. Further ongoing capacity-building for human rights defenders, particularly women defenders, is needed. VI. Administration of justice A. Overview 53. The ability of the judiciary to process conflict-related and other politically sensitive cases remained limited. Members of the judiciary and the Judicial Police 8 continued to face attacks, threats and other violence, including unlawful deprivation of liberty. On 17 March, unidentified gunmen in Tripoli took a judge hostage, releasing him three days later. On 24 September, Ayad Njim, the Director of the Ain Zara (B) prison (nominally under the Ministry of Justice), unlawfully detained four members of the Judicial Police for several hours. They had gone to the prison to inform him of his transfer to a different position. Mr. Njim is a member of the powerful Tripoli Revolutionaries Brigade armed group, nominally under the Ministry of the Interior (see para. 63). 54. Criminal proceedings that did take place in 2018 were often marred by breaches of fair trial rights. On 15 August, a Tripoli court sentenced 45 men to death in connection with alleged crimes committed during the armed conflict in 2011. Several defendants complained that they had been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment during the initial period of their detention. Court proceedings took place inside the Ain Zara (A) prison. 55. The inability of the justice system to function effectively has led to widespread impunity, particularly for abuses perpetrated by armed groups. UNSMIL/OHCHR is unaware of any prosecution of armed group members, including those affiliated to the State, for crimes 8 The Judicial Police is under the authority of the Ministry of Justice, with responsibility for, inter alia, managing prisons, enforcing court decisions, maintaining the security of courts and apprehending fugitives. 9