Truth and justice can't wait electronic resource human rights developments in Libya amid institutional obstacles

Title from PDF title page (Human Rights Watch, viewed Dec. 15, 2009) ;

"This report was researched and written by Heba Morayef, researcher at Human Rights Watch."--P. 70.

"Truth and Justice Can't Wait examines recent human rights developments in Libya, focusing on areas of limited progress, and the institutional barriers that attempts to improve human rights protection run up against. New newspapers have expanded the space for free expression, but penal code provisions continue to criminalize free speech; journalists face harassment and litigation for expressing critical views. There is virtually no freedom of association for Libyan citizens, including those wanting to establish their own human rights groups. The Justice Ministry has proposed revisions to the penal code, and has challenged many cases of arbitrary detention by the Internal Security Agency. But the Agency remains unaccountable, despite being responsible for systematic violations of Libyan rights, including the detention of political prisoners, enforced disappearances and deaths in custody. The government has finally begun moves to compensate families of the victims of the 1996 massacre of 1200 men at Abu Salim prison, but has failed to provide a public account of what happened, or to punish those responsible. The families of the victims have shown unprecedented activism and demonstrated publicly in Benghazi over the past year despite intimidation and occasional arrest."--P. [4] of cover.