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UN / ICC LIBYA
STORY: UN / ICC LIBYA
TRT: 2:27
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ARABIC / ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 10 NOVEMBER 2020, NEW YORK CITY
FILE - NEW YORK CITY
1. Wide shot, UN headquarters exterior
NOVEMBER 2020, NEW YORK CITY
2. Multiscreen, participants in Security Council meeting
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC):
“Victims of atrocity crimes in Libya must be reassured that notwithstanding any ceasefire or future agreement, individuals alleged to be responsible for serious crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court will be promptly arrested and surrendered to the Court to face charges for their alleged crimes.”
4. Multiscreen, participants in Security Council meeting
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC):
“The non-execution of the arrest warrants is the foremost obstacle to our collective capacities to give hope to the people and victims of crimes in Libya. I urge this Council and Member States to take effective and concrete steps to ensure that safe havens are not provided to fugitives from justice who face serious criminal charges before the International Criminal Court. Inaction in this regard allows abhorrent crimes that are alleged to have been committed in places such as Tarhunah to continue. There is a collective responsibility to ensure ICC warrants of arrests are duly executed.”
6. Multiscreen, participants in Security Council meeting
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Fatou Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC):
“We find ourselves in an age where powerful forces increasingly aim to undermine the cause of international criminal justice as continuation of politics by other means. What is required, today, more than ever, is greater support for the ICC, its independent and impartial work and the international rule of law; not less. Any act that may undermine the global movement towards greater accountability for atrocity crimes and a ruled-based international order must be avoided.”
8. Multiscreen, participants in Security Council meeting
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Taher El Sonni, Permanent Representative of Libya to the United Nations:
"Families were found in these graves, including women and children, as well as victims buried alive. I do not know what more you want than these facts to punish and hold those responsible for these acts as you know very well those who carried them out, those who gave the commands for their commitment, and those who supported them with finances and weapons."
10. Multiscreen, participants in Security Council meeting
ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda welcomed the recent signing of the ceasefire agreement by Libyan parties but stressed that “victims of atrocity crimes in Libya must be reassured that notwithstanding any ceasefire or future agreement, individuals alleged to be responsible for serious crimes falling under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court will be promptly arrested and surrendered to the Court to face charges for their alleged crimes.”
In her briefing today (10 Nov) at a virtual meeting of the Security Council, Bensouda called on parties to implement the agreement to usher in the much-awaited peace and stability for the people of Libya. She said the country remains a high priority situation for her Office, adding that investigations have significantly progressed. She noted the recent discovery of mass graves in Tarhunah and south of Tripoli, with many of the recovered bodies reportedly blindfolded with their hands tied.
She also told the Council her Office received credible information regarding the increased use of landmines and improvised explosive devices against civilians discovered following the retreat of forces from Tripoli and surrounding areas. Mines and improvised explosive devices were reported to have been placed in the garages, kitchens and bedrooms of civilian homes.
The ICC Chief Prosecutor said, “The non-execution of the arrest warrants is the foremost obstacle to our collective capacities to give hope to the people and victims of crimes in Libya. I urge this Council and Member States to take effective and concrete steps to ensure that safe havens are not provided to fugitives from justice who face serious criminal charges before the International Criminal Court. Inaction in this regard allows abhorrent crimes that are alleged to have been committed in places such as Tarhunah to continue. There is a collective responsibility to ensure ICC warrants of arrests are duly executed.”
Bensdou said today “powerful forces increasingly aim to undermine the cause of international criminal justice as continuation of politics by other means.” She stressed that what is required more than ever is “greater support for the ICC, its independent and impartial work and the international rule of law; not less. Any act that may undermine the global movement towards greater accountability for atrocity crimes and a ruled-based international order must be avoided.”
Libyan Ambassador Taher El Sonni said some 342,000 people were displaced and 125,000 homes destroyed as the result of the offensive carried out by General Haftar and the countries backing him on the Libyan Capital.
He said some 200 bodies were recovered in the mass graves found in Tarhunah and south of Tripoli as more graves continued to be revealed.
The Libyan ambassador said, "Families were found in these graves, including women and children, as well as victims buried alive. I do not know what more you want than these facts to punish and hold those responsible for these acts as you know very well those who carried them out, those who gave the commands for their commitment, and those who supported them with finances and weapons."
El Sonni said the Libyan Government has a national responsibility to unveil these crimes and hold the perpetrators accountable.
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