Brussels, 03/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 2 October, the EU spoke of its deep concern about the conclusions to the United Nations report on torture in Libyan prisons. “We are very concerned about the findings of the report”, said Michael Mann, the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton. He added that “the EU has raised the issue of ill-treatment of detainees in its dialogue with the Libyan authorities”.
On 31 January 2012, Ashton had called for the respect of all detainees in Libya in line with international standards at the time when the initial reports on abuse in detention centres had appeared, and she had called on the authorities to accelerate the process of bringing all places of detention under their control and to investigate allegations of violations of detainees' rights. Mann stated that the Libyan government has since committed to taking measures for transferring the control of detention facilities to the authorities.
Mann said that the EU will continue to follow the issue closely. “The EU (…) stands ready to provide every assistance to the authorities in their efforts to ensure respect for human rights, democratic values and the rule of law”, he added.
The EU is currently providing funding of €1.5 million for a project to provide victims of torture, enforced disappearances and victims of violent trauma in Libya with rehabilitation and support services, and to advocate for a national legal policy framework that addresses torture and other forms of ill-treatment.
According to the UN report, torture and ill-treatment are frequent in Libyan prisons and many arrests are arbitrary. Around 8,000 people are detained without trial in government prisons, suspected of having fought for Gaddafi during the 2011 revolution. In the two years since then, 27 people have died - probably following torture in prisons held by militia, where detention conditions are extremely hard. (CG/transl.fl)