Thank you, Madam President.
I would also like to thank Deputy Special Representative and Chargé d'affaires Stephanie Koury for her presentation and her work, Ambassador Yamazaki and his team for the work during the past two years, and Mr Ali Omar, founder and director of Libya Crimes Watch, for his presentation. I welcome the participation of the Libyan representative to this meeting.
As this is our last speech on Libya as an elected member of the Council, we would like to highlight certain aspects that have guided our work over the past two years. We all know that the fragmentation of the country and its institutions continues, that human rights violations and abuses continue – we have just heard it again – and that national elections still seem uncertain but are urgently needed. But the measures taken at local level could serve as a basis for more far-reaching measures, if there is the political will to do so. That is why this Council must continue to focus on the following three points:
First, we thank DSRSG Koury again for presenting the action lines of UNSMIL's strategy towards an inclusive political process. We will continue to work alongside UNSMIL to promote a Libyan political process based on the six principles described by DSRSG Koury. In this respect, Switzerland is ready to make its peace policy instruments available. This applies in particular to human rights and international humanitarian law, to which we are committed alongside UNSMIL and the Netherlands. In addition, Switzerland remains committed to the Presidential Council and the African Union in favour of an inclusive reconciliation process based on the rule of law. In this respect, we encourage the relevant authorities to stop delaying the adoption of a law that complies with international principles in this area and is linked to the political process.
Like UNSMIL, Switzerland welcomes the holding of municipal elections in Libya. This represents a crucial opportunity for the Libyan people to exercise their right to choose their representatives and to promote responsible governance. Finally, we also encourage the Secretary-General to appoint a Special Representative of the Secretary-General as soon as possible.
Secondly, it is essential to create an environment conducive to the political process. This includes preventing violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. On 16 December 1966, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was adopted by this UN General Assembly. This Covenant contains important guarantees to protect the civil and political liberties of individuals and has been ratified by Libya. Over the past twenty-four months, Switzerland has tirelessly reiterated that an electoral process guaranteeing the participation of women and all minorities, as well as a free and secure civic space, requires an improvement in the human rights situation in Libya. In this context, we would like to highlight an important step: the signing of a Declaration of Intent between the Presidential Council and the co-chairs of the Working Group on International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in May 2023. This declaration aims to ensure the centrality of human rights at all stages of the political and reconciliation process and establishes a regular and inclusive dialogue between the signatories to this end.
Thirdly, the security situation remains fragile. Armed groups wield considerable influence and clashes between them harm the civilian population. Actions that could increase tensions, undermine confidence and further entrench institutional divisions and discord among Libyans must be avoided. We call on the main players to engage in dialogue and compromise; all members of the international community must support this cause in a consistent manner.
Furthermore, we wish to express our concern about the increasing leniency of Member States with regard to violations of the sanctions regime, in particular the arms embargo and illicit oil exports, as highlighted in the latest report of the Panel of Experts mandated by this Council. The lack of coherence and respect for international instruments designed to promote peace and stability in Libya will have long-term consequences, not only in Libya but in the region as a whole. We therefore call on the entire international community to respect their commitments and promote peace in Libya.
Madam President,
I would like to recall the words of Hala Bughaigis, civil society briefer here last October. She stressed that ‘peace mediation efforts must be based on a concept of responsibility-sharing, not just power-sharing’. Switzerland is ready to continue its commitment in this respect.
Thank you.