GENEVA (21 November 2011) – The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Monday welcomed the capture in Libya of Saif Al Islam Gaddafi and former chief of intelligence Abdullah Al Senussi, both of whom have been subject to International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrants since June 2011.

“The arrests of Gaddafi’s son and the former Director of Military Intelligence have enormous significance for the future of justice in Libya. I warmly welcome the announcement by the Prime Minister that Saif Al Islam Gaddafi will be treated humanely and tried fairly in line with international standards,” Pillay said.

“Libyans clearly have the right to seek redress for the constant and widespread human rights violations they have suffered for four decades, including during the recent conflict, and to see justice being done,” said Pillay. “In the interim, the Libyan authorities, in keeping with the public commitment they made, should ensure that Saif Al Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al Senussi are detained in humane conditions.”

The High Commissioner urged the Libyan authorities to cooperate fully with the ICC in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1970, with a view to ensuring that those responsible for violations of human rights and international humanitarian law are held accountable.

“I note that the President of the Assembly of State Parties of the ICC has issued a statement saying that should the Libyan authorities wish to try them in Libya, they can make the case before the ICC that their national judicial system is willing and able to do so in an independent and impartial manner,” she said.

Learn more about the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/HighCommissioner.aspx

UN Human Rights, country page – Libya: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Countries/MENARegion/Pages/LYIndex.aspx

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