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STATEMENT BY MAURITIUS ON BEHALF OF THE AFRICAN GROUP DURING GENERAL ASSEMBLY
DEBATE ON RES A/65/L.60- Agenda item 117
Mr. President,
I make this statement on behalf of the African Group to express our deep concern about the current
situation in Libya and to express our support for Draft Resolution A/65/L.60.
In this regard, we recall the communique issued following the 261'1 meeting of the Peace and Security
Council of the African Union on 23 February 2011, and which
"strongly condemns the indiscriminate
and excessive use of force and lethal weapons against peaceful protestors, in violation of human rights
and International Humanitarian Law which continues to contribute to the loss of human life and the
destruction of property. "
The AU Peace and Security Council further "underscored that the aspirations of the people of Libya for
democracy, political reform, justice and socio-economic development are legitimate and urged that they
be respected."
The African Group at the Human Rights Council supported the adoption of Resolution A/HRC/S-15/2 on
the situation of Human Rights in Libya, on 25 February 2011 on the conviction that the rights to freedom
of expression, peaceful assembly and freedom of association are provided for both in Articles 19, 21 and
22 of the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and in Articles 9, 10 and 11 of the African
Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights adopted in 1981.
The international community must send a strong message to those who are responsible for violence
against the Libyan people and to the people of Libya expressing their legitimate aspirations that it is not
indifferent to gross and systematic violations of human rights and that the international community
respects the right of peaceful demonstrators to express their legitimate aspirations.
Each Member State has a duty to protect and safeguard all universally recognized human rights and
fundamental freedoms but members of the Human Rights Council have a particular duty to act on behalf
of the international community in ensuring the promotion and protection of human rights.
Consequently the African Group while joining in the consensus on this draft resolution stresses that the
decision taken with respect to exceptional circumstances in Libya does not call into question the
sovereign right of States elected to various organs of the United Nations to fulfill their mandate.
The African Group supports the call by the Security Council to Member States working together and
acting in cooperation with the Secretary General to facilitate and sustain the return of humanitarian
agencies and make available humanitarian and related assistance in Libya. At this time, our main
concern is the safety and wellbeing of the people of Libya and our hope is that the strong resolve of the
international community will persuade the Libyan authorities and foreign nationals in the country to act
with utmost restraint and respect all universally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms.
We are also hopeful that the Security Council, the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council will
keep the situation in Libya under review and will reconsider their decisions in the light of developing
circumsta nces.
I wish to conclude by concurring with the statement made on behalf of the African Group at the Human
Rights Council meeting on 25 February:
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just as the international community remained united in
their condemnation of the human rights situation in Libya so also must it unite in helping Libya
surmount its challenges."
Thank you, Mr. President.