Photo taken on Nov. 2, 2018 shows the Security Council meeting on the situation in Libya at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday asked the UN Security Council to shore up its support with effective action, particularly regarding the arrest of outstanding fugitives from justice. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)
UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday asked the UN Security Council to shore up its support with effective action, particularly regarding the arrest of outstanding fugitives from justice.
"I look forward to effective support and concrete action from this Council to ensure that our separate yet interlinked mandates can positively contribute to the cause of peace, stability and justice in Libya," Fatou Bensouda said as she presented her 16th report on the issue to the 15-member organ.
Bensouda said that, despite previous appeals of Council members and concerted efforts of the Court, not one of those indicted for alleged crimes in the events of the 2011 Libya situation has been arrested.
She warned that in the absence of accountability, impunity will continue to reign in Libya, causing great suffering and instability.
In that context, she said her office continues to monitor criminal conduct carried out by members of armed groups in Libya who use violence to exert control over state institutions, commit serious human rights violations and exploit detainees in unregulated prisons and places of detention throughout the country.
She added that she hopes to soon be able to apply for new arrest warrants for such crimes.
Bensouda noted that she also continued to receive evidence of alleged crimes committed against migrants transiting through Libya, including killings, sexual violence, torture and enslavement.
Since her last report, her office has piloted new models of cooperation with interested states and law enforcement organizations to address criminal networks that operate in Libya and outside the country.
Following the briefing, most Council members expressed support for the Court's work in Libya under Resolution 1970 (2011), agreeing that ending impunity for grave crimes was necessary to consolidate stability in the troubled country.
Ma Zhaoxu, China's UN ambassador, expressed his support to all efforts that aimed to consolidate stability in Libya, and called on all Libyans to work for national reconciliation and restore state governance throughout the country.
"The international community should continue its support to the country in that effort while respecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said.
In regard to the ICC, he said that his country's position remained unchanged.
