The Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace (LWPP) has condemned the continuous silencing of women’s voices in Libya.
Development Diaries reports that 17 July marks four years since the forcible disappearance of Siham Sergewa, a member of Libya’s House of Representatives, in Benghazi.
LWPP, in a statement to mark the day, said there has been no investigation yet by the Libyan authorities on her forcible disappearance amid serious concerns for and leaks of her assassination.
It is understood that Libyan women activists, bloggers and journalists are increasingly being silenced as they face gender-based violence (GBV). Violence, as reported by Amnesty International, is seen in the form of physical assault, abductions and sexual violence, as well as smear campaigns, gender-related slurs and attempts at intimidation.
It bwas gathered that Sergewa’s forcible disappearance came on the day marking the fifth year since the assassination of another woman parliamentarian, member of the first parliament (GNC), Fariha al-Berkawi, in Derna on July 17th, 2014.
The statement read, ‘As we today remember these two brave women parliamentarians who were assassinated for their advocacy to end the war and for a peaceful transfer of power, the Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace (LWPP) condemns normalising the silencing of women’s voices in Libya.
‘The failure to properly investigate and prosecute the assassinations of women like Fariha al-Berkawi, Salwa Bugaighis and others has led to the rise of a culture of impunity in Libya, in which attacks on prominent women and women human rights defenders have become normalised’.
The organisation noted that there can be no meaningful democratic transition in Libya until the basic security and human rights of the population are guaranteed.
Development Diaries calls on the Libyan government to put words to action and safeguard women from GBV.
We also urge the authorities to investigate cases of forced disappearances and murders of women parliamentarians in the country.
Photo source: Cüneyt Türksen
