Today, 17th November 2011, the Independent Civil Society Mission to Libya begins its work. The Mission is organised by the Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR), and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR). The Mission consists of two components: a Fact-Finding Mission, and a Training Team; it will remain in Libya until 24th November.

The Independent Civil Society Fact-Finding Mission to Libya

The Independent Civil Society Fact-Finding Mission to Libya is organised in conjunction with PCHR, AOHR, and the International Legal Aid Consortium (ILAC). It has three principal subjects for investigation: suspected violations of international law committed by the former-Qadaffi government; by the current government and associated groups since 17 February 2011; and by NATO forces. It will visit a number of key sites throughout Libya, including Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata, Ajdabiya, Sirte, and the Nafusa Mountains.

The Fact-Finding Mission is composed of a number of leading lawyers and jurists with expertise in international human rights law, international criminal law, and the law of armed conflict. Its members include: Raji Sourani, Dr. Ameen Mekki Madani, Mohsin Awad, Ameena Abu Aish, Agnetta Johansson, William Meryer, and Daragh Murray. While in Libya the Mission will meet with victims, members of the current and former armed forces, prisoners, witnesses, civil society, the Libyan Bar Association, and the political establishment. It is mandated to investigate potential violations of international human rights law, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed by all parties.

The Training Team

The Training Team comprises the second component of the Mission. It will target members of civil society, lawyers, and the judiciary. In its current phase, two three-day training sessions will be conducted, concentrating on issues such as documentation, case-file preparation, international human rights law, international human rights mechanisms, international advocacy, and international mechanisms of criminal justice. A key feature of the sessions will also be the incorporation of international standards into domestic legislation, and the role of accountability and transparency in ensuring the rule of law.

The Independent Civil Society Mission builds on initial training sessions conducted by PCHR and AOHR in Cairo in June. These sessions were attended by human rights defenders from Libya, Syria, and Yemen.

Members of the Mission

· Raji Sourani is a lawyer, and Director of PCHR;

·    Dr. Ameen Mekki Madani is a prominent lawyer from Sudan, and former President of the Arab Organization for Human Rights;

· Mohsin Awad is former Secretary-General of the Arab Organization for Human Rights, a member of the Egyptian Human Rights Council, and a prominent human rights activists and researcher;

· Ameena Abu Aish is president of the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights;

· Agnetta Johansson is a lawyer and Deputy Director of the International Legal Aid Consortium;

· William Meryer is a lawyer and former president of the International Legal Aid Consortium;

· Daragh Murray is a Government of Ireland IRCHSS Scholar, and International Legal Officer at PCHR.