Tripoli: A team of experts has reached a consensus on the primary elements of a draft law concerning missing persons during a meeting in Tripoli. This initiative, titled “Addressing the Missing Persons File in Libya,” is a collaborative effort between the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to Libyan News Agency, the two-day meeting, which took place on September 17 and 18, featured 46 participants. These included representatives from the House of Representatives, the Presidential Council, the High Council of State, and various ministries such as Justice, Interior, Defense, and Foreign Affairs. Additionally, the Prime Minister’s Office, the General Commission for the Search for Missing Persons, the National Council for Civil Liberties and Human Rights, along with forensic and legal experts, and members of civil society and academia, were present.
The participants meticulously reviewed the draft law article by article. They concurred on the necessity to form a unified national committee for missing persons, granting it distinct powers to prevent overlap within existing institutions. The law’s compliance with international standards on enforced disappearances was emphasized, aiming to bolster the protection of families and integrate the search for missing persons into the broader context of transitional justice.
This meeting was a continuation of prior consultations and a legal survey that informed the draft law, prepared with UNSMIL and UNDP’s assistance. Participants suggested further amendments to the committee’s composition and mandate to ensure alignment with international standards.
A small drafting team will be established to finalize the text, incorporating feedback from the sessions before it is submitted to the House of Representatives. UNSMIL and UNDP will maintain their engagement with families of missing persons and civil society organizations to ensure the law aligns with their perspectives and requirements.
UNSMIL and UNDP, along with their local and international partners, expressed their ongoing commitment to supporting Libya’s endeavors to create a comprehensive legal framework for reconciliation and addressing missing persons, in line with international standards and as part of the larger transitional justice process.