Acting on the recommendation of the UN Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly today suspended Libya from Council. This is the first time that the Council (or indeed its predecessor, the Commission on Human Rights) have taken such decisive action against one of its members. The vote, which required a two-thirds majority in the 192-member General Assembly, was passed by acclamation.
Encouraged by this move, and by the strong resolution adopted by the UN Security Council on 26 February, UNA-UK urges states to take further action on Libya, including:
- ensuring that the Council's arms embargo is fully respected
- taking concrete steps at this week's Arms Trade Treaty negotiations in New York to prevent future misuse of arms by despotic regimes
- supporting the UN Human Rights Council's decision to dispatch a commission of inquiry to investigate alleged 'widespread and systematic human rights violations'
- providing support to UN agencies, notably the UN Refugee Agency and World Food Programme, including by safeguarding the passage of food and medical supplies, and of the thousands fleeing the violence
- supporting rescue efforts of foreign nationals still in the country
- ensuring that any potential decisions on establishing a no-fly zone are brought before the UN Security Council
