Libya: call for justice for enforced disappearance victims

Around the time of the Revolution, fuelled by my belief in its potential to dismantle the oppression and injustice prevalent under the Ghaddafi regime, I ventured into activism, sharing my views on social media on various issues. However, in 2016, at the age of 23, my online activities attracted the attention of military authorities, who perceived dissent as a challenge to be suppressed. For 120 nights, I was locked up in a secret prison where I was psychologically and physically tortured.

These experiences marked a pivotal moment in my life, prompting me to depart Libya, leaving behind everything to embark on a path dedicated to the defence of human rights. Now, with the freedom to openly share my thoughts, I seize this moment to draw attention to the concerning rise in enforced disappearances in Libya, the countless missing individuals, and the families anxiously awaiting answers.

Indeed, Libya is in the grip of a growing wave of enforced disappearances, which have become a distressing norm. Reports of abductions of civilians abound, and hardly a day goes by without news of a kidnapping. Authorities, militias, and security agencies, whatever their allegiance, share responsibility for the violence committed against activists, journalists, and social media users.

Yet, awareness of enforced disappearance in Libya remains limited, which hinders assistance to victims. Many survivors are afraid to seek help, leaving perpetrators unpunished.

Although young and inexperienced, and despite the challenging work environment, Libyan civil society plays an essential role in bringing to light enforced disappearances and human rights violations in general. Human rights groups are monitoring the situation, documenting abuses, and reporting to pressure the authorities to put an end to the systemic violence. However, the measures taken so far have proved unable to deter the perpetrators.

Local and international organisations must step up their efforts and exert pressure to obtain answers to the countless disappearances. They must raise public awareness and demand justice for the victims. The Libyan authorities must uphold their legal obligations towards the safety and lives of the victims, by disclosing the fate of the thousands of abducted and missing people.

Joint efforts are essential to put an end to the tragedy of missing persons and their families in Libya. We look forward to the day when enforced disappearances and other grave human rights violations disappear from our country. Only then will justice prevail, and security no longer be a dream.