Following an eight-day visit to the country, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, Reem Alsalem, said urgent action was needed to end the continuous cycle of violence against Libyan and non-Libyan women and girls which is compounded by complete impunity for crimes committed. “I have left Libya feeling deeply disturbed at the widespread, systematic, and grave levels of violence faced by Libyan women and children, including girls. Femicide, or the killing of women on multiple grounds, is rife; as are acts of physical, economic, political and domestic violence in the private and public sphere,” Alsalem said in a statement. “Furthermore, the pushback of migrants and refugees at sea to Libya where their lives are at risk must be stopped. Opportunities for access to fair asylum procedures, evacuation opportunities, and voluntary returns to their countries must be scaled up,” the Special Rapporteur said.
