Libya
|
Full name
|
Great Socialist People' s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
|
|
Population
|
6,173,579
|
|
Government Type
|
In theory, governed but the population, in practice, an authoritarian state
|
|
Head of State
|
Leader and guide of the revolution, Muammar al Gaddafi (since 1st september 1969) |
|
Head of Government
|
Baghdadi Mahmudi (since 5 march 2006)
|
|
"Linguistic" Groups
|
97% Arabic |
|
Religions
|
98% Islam 2%Christians |
|
Languages
|
Arabic English/Italian also understood |
|
Legal System
|
Based on Italian and French Civils Laws systems and Islamic laws with separate religious courts |
| GDP per capita |
14,533 USD |
| International HR Instruments Ratified | University of Minnesota - human rights library |
EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD POLICY
As of today, Libya and the European Union are not linked by contractual relations. EU sanctions against Libya were lifted in 2004 and, since then, an informal dialogue has started with a view to strengthening EU-Libya relations. It is expected that negotiations of an agreement may start in 2008. Libya has the status of observer in the Euro-Mediterranean-Partnership and is also eligible to benefit from assistance under the European Neighbourhood Policy instrument.
Current EU-Libya co-operation is concentrated on two areas: migrations and HIV-AIDS. As for migrations, two projects are implemented under the Aeneas programme, while Libya is eligible to benefit also from the Migrations and Asylum instrument. With regard to HIV-AIDS, the EU implements since 2005 the Action Plan for Benghazi in order to tackle the consequences of a major HIV infection in that city.
Read the Mid Term Review of the ENPI Programming Documents
Human Rights Issues (Under construction)
Freedom of Association
Waves of arbitrary arrests (e.g. Damascus Declaration members) in 2008 and 2009 and failures to provide fair trials impeded any development of civil society. In Libya, Idriss Boufayed and 11 others, were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to 25 years in June 2008, solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of association and expression after having announced on a website their intention to hold a peaceful sit-in protest to commemorate the deaths of at least 12 people, killed by security forces a year earlier during a protest in Benghazi.
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