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The Human Rights Council convened for its 61st session in Geneva between 23 February and 31 March 2026. Agenda item 6 will deal with the Report of the Working Group of the Universal Periodic Review, whose report was on Libya. The review of Libya was held on 11 November 2025, with the report being adopted on 14 November 2025.
The Amman Center for Human Rights Studies (ACHRS) concerns itself with this report as we are interested in all reports at the Human Rights Council which are related to our priorities or to countries in the Arab Region.
Presentation by Libya
Since its previous review in 2019, Libya had accepted more than 180 recommendations across civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights, and was Party to most of the core international human rights conventions. Despite this, Libya continued to face human rights challenges, including enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and torture.
In May 2025, Libya accepted the Jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court until 2027 so as to investigate atrocities committed in Libya.
The country has implemented policies aimed at improving living standards, and launched the Return to Life initiative, consisting of over 4,500 projects in health, education, youth and sports, energy, water, and infrastructure. The government of Libya has also raised minimum pensions, unified salary scales, and provided allowances for women and children. Investments in the health sector include 64 projects to build or fix hospitals and health centers, providing over 3,500 beds. Education was free at all levels, and was compulsory until the end of basic education.
Attempts were made to include women within government, with five ministerial portfolios in the Government of National Unity being held by women, and legislation has been enacted to ensure women’s right to work in judicial institutions, where women currently make up over 40% of staff.
According to the report, Libya approached the universal periodic review with openness to all views and recommendations, while acknowledging existing weaknesses and gaps. Despite this, it remained committed to safeguarding human dignity, and ensuring the full enjoyment of human rights for all people without discrimination. Reforms have been made to the Attorney General’s office to promote rule of law and the protection of human rights, including establishing specialized units such as the Human Rights Unit, enhancing judicial oversight, and strengthening accountability mechanisms.
Interactive Dialogue and Responses by Libya
Delegates from 100 countries made statements during the interactive dialogue, statements which can be found in full on the webcast on the United Nations website.
During this process, Libya reported that comprehensive reforms had been made to strengthen human rights protection within the security, defence, media, and government sectors. This includes establishing a permanent monitoring and fact-finding mission which conducted field visits to over 30 security institutions. Human rights has also become a core element of police training through annual awareness plans being implemented across police training institutions.
Freedom of opinion, expression, and association are protected by the Constitution of Libya, and criticism and expression were fundamental rights protected by the Constitution. The Government of Libya had created independent media bodies, including the Media Content Monitoring Authority, alongside adopting a media code of conduct rooted in international standards in order to safeguard those rights.
Promoting women’s participation in public life and decision making bodies was also a priority for Libya. Women constituted 45% of registered voters, with electoral law reserving 20% of parliamentary seats for women. Specialized courts for handling cases of violence against women and children were operational in Benghazi and Tripoli, and a draft law combating violence against women was being prepared with United Nations assistance. Women’s labour force had reached nearly 40%, supported by legal guarantees on equal pay and protection against pregnancy-related dismissal.
The Government of Libya reaffirmed its commitment to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, through requiring accessible infrastructure nationwide, establishing a committee for persons with disabilities, and expanding the national disability registry to include 220,000 people. Investment has also been made in the form of exclusive education initiatives in 85 schools, providing training for 500 teachers, and providing monthly benefits for 120,000 people with disabilities.
A national social protection strategy was developed, based on 8.1% of gross domestic product spending. This included plans to build 1,500 new schools and to rehabilitate 4,000 others. Other plans include ensuring drinking water coverage for 88% of the population, and strengthened food and security strategies.
Youth rights have also been priorities, with 150,000 beneficiaries of a marriage grant, alongside strategies on drugs, youth empowerment, and reintegration programmes for former soldiers.
The report concludes with 280 recommendations provided for Libya.
Reflections
ACHRS welcomes the report by the Working Group, and congratulates Libya in participating in the review process. ACHRS is also encouraged by Libya’s commitment to progress rights that overlap with ACHRS’ priorities, including women and youth rights. We encourage Libya to continue to collaborate with all relevant international institutions to work towards building a nation based on the rule of law and the protection and promotion of human rights.
ACHRS will continue to monitor the proceedings at the Human Rights Council, and report on developments related to our priorities and those of countries in the Arab Region. ACHRS will provide a more comprehensive analysis of the reports at the conclusion of the 61st session of the Human Rights Council.
