We, the undersigned activists and civil society organizations, express our strong condemnation of the discriminatory measures imposed by the Internal Security Agency of Libya’s National Unity Government on women’s freedom of movement.
These discriminatory measures mean that every Libyan woman traveling alone is required to complete an official declaration providing: her reasons for travel, an explanation of why she is traveling alone, and details of her travel history.
This procedure constitutes a violation of women’s constitutional right to freedom of movement.
As we look forward to the effective participation of Libyan women in the upcoming national elections, this regressive policy represents policymaking based on discrimination, violence, and persecution against women, reinforcing the dominance and repression of the security system over the country.
This discriminatory measure violates the principle of equality enshrined in the Temporary Constitutional Declaration of 2011 (Article 6, Article 14) and Article 31 of the Political Agreement. It is also in conflict with Libyan legislation that guarantees women’s right to movement and travel as full citizens with all the guarantees of citizenship. Moreover, this measure constitutes a grave violation of all international covenants and agreements on human and women’s rights that Libya has ratified, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and other binding international standards protecting the rights of “equality, freedom of movement, residence, and travel.”
In this context, we signatories condemn the specious arguments put forward by some female members of the House of Representatives in written statements justifying the measures in terms of supposed vulnerability and susceptibility of women to becoming victims of fraud and the exceptional circumstances the country is going through. As the country prepares for an upcoming election under delicate circumstances, there is an urgent need to create suitable conditions for free and fair elections, ensuring the basic rights of all individuals, including the right to freedom of movement, travel, and peaceful assembly. This is to renew political legitimacy, achieve the desired stability, and begin building a state of institutions and the law, based on the rights of citizenship and non-discrimination.
We demand that the National Unity government immediately repeal this discriminatory decision, which humiliates Libyan women and represents a regression and violation of the basic rights and freedoms guaranteed constitutionally, legally, and internationally, and ensure the adoption of measures that preserve national security and safeguard the dignity of Libyan women.
Signatories:
- The Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace
- Adala for All Organization
- Libya Future Center for Media and Culture
- Defender Center for Human Rights
- WASHM Organization
- Nawazi Organization for Gender Studies
- Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
- Aman Against Discrimination
- Karama International Organization
- Tafarud Empowerment Organization
- Amazonat Organization
- Solidarity Organization to advocate for Women’s Issues
Individuals:
- Zahra’ Langhi, Co-founder & CEO of the Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace, member of the Political Dialogue Forum
- Umm Al-Ezz Al-Farsi, a member of the Political Dialogue Forum, a faculty member at the University of Benghazi
- Salah Al-Marghani, human rights activist and former Minister of Justice
- Hassan Al-Amin, editor-in-chief of Libya Al-Mustaqbal
- Bashir Zoabieh, editor-in-chief of Al-Wasat
- Amal Al-Obaidi, a university professor
- Ikram Bash Imam, President of the Libyan Women Engineers Association and former Minister of Tourism
- Wafia Saif Al-Nasr, member of the Political Dialogue Forum
- Fayrouz Abd al-Rahim al-Naas, politician and academic
- Aida Salem Al-Kibti, writer and the first female anchor on Libyan television during the independence period)
- Razan Naim al-Maghrabi, writer
- Farida Al-Allaqi, human rights activist and former Libyan ambassador to the European Union
- Naima Jibril, former head of the Benghazi Court and a member of the Political Dialogue Committee in Skhirat
- Amina Al-Maghirbi, an academic and former member of the General National Congress (GNC)
- Ibtisam Bahih, an academic and member of the Constitutional Drafting Assembly
- Fatima Shanib, a lawyer at the Public Defender’s Department in Benghazi
- Hala Ahmed Al-Atrash, a faculty member at the Faculty of Law, University of Benghazi
- Lamia Sharaf Al-Din, a faculty member at the University of Tripoli
- Fatima Ghandoura, a university professor and media personality
- Hanan Saad Yaqa, a human rights activist and president of the Tawergha Women’s Union
- Farida Muhammad Al-Zalitani, a human rights activist
- Jazia Shaiter, a legal and human rights activist
- Abeer Amnina, academic and head of WASHM organization
- Marwa Salem, a feminist activist
- Ahmed Al-Jahani, an international economist and legal expert, former Minister of Stability in the Executive Office
- Muhammad Buisir, a politician interested in public affairs
- Zahi al-Maghirbi, academic
- Najeeb Al-Hasadi, academic
- Nujood Langhi, a researcher and human rights activist, founding member at LWPP
- Enas, Sodouh, a civil activist
- Israa, a professional researcher
- Hala Salem Al-Misrati, a human rights activist, Solidarity Organization for the Advocacy of Women’s Issues
- Tahani Farhat Darbi, a journalist
- Ali Al-Abani, an artist
- Khaled Mutawa, a Libyan poet and writer
- Reem Jibril, an artist
- Hadia Kana, an artist
- Ehda Ibrahim Makraz, media activist and faculty member at the University of Benghazi
- Asmaa Sriba, a former representative of the General National Congress
- Jamila Falaq, a civil activist and former Minister of Women’s Affairs
- Mabrouka Al-Mismari, a media activist and a founding member of the Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace
- Zakia Muhammad al-Ta’eb, a women’s rights activist
- Hajar Al-Hunaid, a scout leader
- Asmaa Dikna – a human rights activist
- Maysoon Saleh, media activist
- Hind Saleh Al-Bishari, President and founder of Tafarud Empowerment Organization
- Lam’an Muhammad Buisir, media activist
- Ayat Amneena, a civil activist
- Haneen Bouchoucha, a feminist activist
- Nahla Al-Mahdi Al-Misawi, journalist
- Khadija Al-Baseikri, a poet and activist in the field of women’s rights
- Fatima Omar Hawass, a human rights activist
- Basma Al-Werfalli, a civil activist
- Mansour Ati, journalist and civil society activist.
- Khadija Ramadan Al-Amami, a journalist.
- Iman Ben Younes, a legal expert and former state minister for institutional restructuring
- Azza Omar Bugendoura, an academic
- Libya Idris Al-Mismari, media activist
- Hala Awad Lanqi, an academic
- Hanan Al-Maqoub, a civil and media activist
- Amal Al-Dilawi, an entrepreneur
- Rima Saleh Al-Juraidi, an academic
- Al-Sharif Al-Wafi Muhammad Ali, former General National Congress (GNC) member and a Presidential Candidate
- Asaad Mohsin Zhiyu, presidential candidate
- Fathallah al-Senussi al-Mahdi al-Jadi, writer and diplomat
- Ahmed Al-Abbar, former member of the National Transitional Council
- Ahmed Al-Sharkasi, member of the Political Dialogue Forum
- Malak Al-Hannushi, a civil activist
- Hana Shalouf, a civil activist and a member of the Peacemakers team
- Mabrouka Jibril, a civil activist and scout leader
- Nada Al-Sharif, a member of the scout team and the girls’ team at the Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace
- Mason Tuger, an economist
- Wajd Al-Saedi, a civil activist
- Khalil Al-Hassi, a media activist
- Hazem Al-Ferjani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Barah Cultural Organization
- Nouran Al-Arabi, human rights activist – Executive Director of the Libyan Debating Club
- Tazeer Al-Omrani, media activist and human rights activist
- Hind Al-Hunaid, a civil activist and scout leader
- Areej Khattab, a faculty member at the University of Al-Bayda
- Rima Ateeqa, a civil activist
- Ahmed Wanis al-Makki, writer and political activist
- Haitham Al-Keeb, former UN/ESCWA advisor
- Ashour Hamad Burashid, Libyan politician and former Representative of Libya at the League of Arab States
- Ahmed Mohamed Faraj Amtir, an employee at the Diplomatic Institute / Benghazi
- Basma Faraj Al-Tawati, a civil activist
- Thuraya Muhammad Ali, a civil activist
- Haifa Salem Al-Baili, media personality
- d. Ali Maasdnah Idriss, a medical doctor and former ambassador
- Abdul Wahab Qringo, writer and journalist
- Rabih al-Jiyash, a human rights activist
- Abdullah Zaqoub, a writer
- Moatasem Muhammad Dakhil, a civil activist and a member of the Revolutionary Youth Commission
- Rehab Shanib, poet and civil activist
- Amani Khattab, faculty member
- Sabreen Hussein Muhammad, a civil activist
- Rania Al-Issawi, a civil activist
- Bushra Atluba, civil activist and trainer
- Suad Al-Shuwaidi, an artist and civil activist
- Muhammad al-Majbari, researcher and civil activist
- Sari Al-Fitouri, head of Tajard Organization for Architecture and Arts
- Farida Al-Farsi, a civil activist
- Huda Khashim, writer
- Nafie Al-Tashani, translator
- Dalila Al-Zoghbi, human rights activist – Amnesty International
- Heba Al-Raz, Executive Director of Atfaluna Organization
- Manal Al-Hamshari, journalist 107. Enas Daou, a feminist activist
- Sama Al-Boaishi, civil activist, Maken Foundation
- Alaa Harib, a civil activist
- Iman Ben Amer, journalist and photographer
- Maryam Al-Abani, artist
- Hajar Halab, human rights activist – TALSA Organization
- Omar El-Haddad, content manager at Alwasat
- Abdul Hafiz Ghoga, lawyer, former vice president of the National Transitional Council
- Amina Khairallah Al-Hassih, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Change Forum
- Naji Shuaib Al-Obeidi, member of the Faculty of Engineering, University of Benghazi
- Suad Ibrahim bin Khalifa, civil society activist and trainer at the Libyan Korean Center
- Mona Abdel Razek Zoghbiyeh, lawyer and parliamentary candidate
- Marwan Al-Tashani, human rights activist and researcher
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