Destoori - Lawyers for Justice in Libya

The Rehlat Watan Tour was a great success! Rehlat Watan kicked off on 21 November in Benghazi and has been full speed ever since. You can follow all the movements, updates, pictures, and videos on the Rehlat Watan Page. See the latest updates from the most recent cities.

FEAUTURED VIDEO: "The Struggle for Human Rights and Democracy in Libya"

The Destoori Rehlat Watan constitutional bus tour engaged with thousands of individuals across Libya on a wide range of issues, topics, and concerns. This video highlights some of the main issues concerning civil and political rights including minority rights (rights of religious, political, and ethnic minorities), women's rights, torture, and impunity.

This video was presented at the United Nations Human Rights Council side event " The Long Road Ahead - The Struggle for Human Rights and Democracy in Libya", held by Lawyers for Justice in Libya and Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. This video was used as a basis for discussion at the event and the issues raised were then discussed in further detail.

DESTOORI DAILY

DAY 24

TRIPOLI - PART 2

23 December 2012

Our Destoori team spent two days in Tripoli, where they conducted surveys and engaged in productive discussions with citizens. The Destoori team visited the Fish Market and Musheer Market. Many there stressed the need for security, to live with dignity, with freedom and the need to build a lawful state. They also believed that an impartial and independent judiciary was essential, as well as having an independent authority responsible for monitoring the work of the legislator, with the power to strike-down any laws violated human rights in Libya. In contrast, some citizens mentioned the need for Sharia to be a source of legislation, but at the same time they expressed the need for the concept of Sharia to be accurately defined.

Many citizens believed that all concepts and phrases included in the constitution must be fully defined, to ensure no politician interprets it to further their own interest. Furthermore, citizens stressed that police and army should only function to protect the people, not government or any political body that wants to win power.

More from Tripoli

Citizens also expressed that as long as the legislative authority was constrained by the constitution through a supreme court/constitutional court, with the power to strikedown any unconstitutional laws, then Dar Al-Ifat’a should only act as an advisory body and only courts have the right to rule on any conflicts.

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Lawyers for Justice in Libya and the Jolie Legal Fellows Program Celebrate the Conclusion of Rehlat Watan Constitution Tour

Angelina Jolie - Founder of the Jolie Legal Fellow Program Lawyers for Justice in Libya (LFJL) joins the Jolie Legal Fellows Program in celebrating the successful conclusion of the Rehlat Watan Tour, part of the Destoori Project. Destoori aims to educate Libyan citizens on the constitution-making process, to engage public opinion, and to create a connection and sense of ownership between the Libyan people and their constitution.

“We are very proud of Destoori and the opportunity it has given us to reach out to Libyans across the country, in every region, and to speak to Libyans about their genuine concerns, their fears and their aspirations for the constitution. We believe that Libya’s constitution must be written by all 6 million set of Libyan hands and represent the voices of all Libyan citizens. Rehlat Watan has brought us closer to that goal,” said LFJL director Elham Saudi. Angelina Jolie added, “I am thrilled that the Jolie Legal Fellows Program is partnering with Lawyers for Justice in Libya and the Destoori project to bring the conversation back to Libyans’ desire for a constitution informed by the will of the people.”