The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said that women in Libya still have no effective legal protection against domestic and sexual violence.

The human rights watchdog made the statement while reacting to the new Decree on Libyan Women’s Non-Citizen Children.

It is understood that discrimination on the basis of gender contravenes Libya’s 2011 Constitutional Covenant.

That covenant guarantees that ‘Libyans shall be equal before the law […] without distinction on the grounds of religion, belief, language, wealth, gender, kinship […]’.

It also breaches Libya’s international law obligations not to discriminate against women and their children.

The Council of Ministers of the Libyan Government of National Unity (GNU) in October 2022 issued the decree stating that non-citizen children of Libyan women would be granted ‘all rights entitled to Libyan citizens’.

The decree mentions access to free education, free medical treatment, and visa-free entry to the country.

However, HRW said it falls short of guaranteeing the rights of children of Libyan women to obtain nationality as that of Libyan men.

‘Libyan women not only face discrimination relating to their children but also face hurdles in obtaining marriage licenses to marry non-Libyans after Libya’s Grand Mufti called on authorities to ban women from marrying foreigners in 2013’, a statement from HRW read.

‘Libyan men have no restrictions on marrying non-Libyans, can automatically confer citizenship to their children, and their non-Libyan spouses can easily obtain it.

‘Libyan women face other discrimination on issues pertaining to marriage, inheritance, and divorce, and have no effective legal protection against domestic and sexual violence’.

HRW urged the authorities in the North African country to ensure equality and nondiscrimination for Libyan women and their children.

Photo source: HRW