GENEVA, JUNE 18 – Addressing a Human Rights Council’s Interactive Dialogue on the situation in Libya, the Italian Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado, stressed the urgency of a complete cessation of hostilities and the end of all external interference in the country.
Italy fully supports the United Nations efforts aimed at achieving a long lasting ceasefire, while sharing the concerns highlighted by the High Commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, in her report about the deteriorating human rights situation in Libya, including the impact of the ongoing conflict on civilians, attacks against human rights defenders and journalists, treatment of migrants and refugees, conditions of detention and impunity, said the Ambassador
“Italy stresses the urgency of a de-escalation of the conflict, leading to a permanent ceasefire also in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic and fully supports the political and reconciliation efforts carried out by the United Nations as well as the implementation of the outcomes of the Berlin Conference”, said Cornado.
The Italian Ambassador urged all parties to the conflict to fully comply with their obligations under international human rights and humanitarian law, especially protecting the civilian population and vital infrastructure and ensuring safe, unconditional, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access. Italy also encourages Libya to pursue efforts to provide accountability for human rights violations and abuses, to increase synergies with IOM and UNHCR to address the issue of migrants and asylum seekers and to keep on cooperating with the Human Rights Council and its Special Procedures and mechanisms, including the Universal Periodic Review. (@OnuItalia)