Fact Sheet: UN Security Council Resolution 1970, Libya Sanctions

The UN Security Council has adopted a comprehensive resolution to respond to the outrageous violence perpetrated by Muammar Qadafi on the Libyan people. This resolution imposes immediate measures to stop the violence, ensure accountability and facilitate humanitarian aid.

The Security Council has demanded an end to the violence and urged Libyan authorities to respect human rights, ensure the safety of foreign nationals allow the safe passage of humanitarian supplies and lift restrictions on all forms of media.

Significantly, the resolution:

1) Refers the situation to the International Criminal Court (ICC)

• The Security Council referral gives the ICC jurisdiction over crimes committed in Libya after February 15, the day of the first
• protests in Benghazi. The ICC may investigate crimes including war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
• A referral the ICC is necessary because Libya is not a party to the ICC Rome Statute.
• The ICC Prosecutor will report regularly to the Security Council.

2) Imposes an arms embargo and other arms restrictions

• All states are prohibited to provide any kind of arms to Libya.
• All states are prohibited from allowing the transit to Libya of mercenaries.
• Libya is prohibited from exporting any arms to any other state.
• States are called upon to inspect suspicious cargo that may contain arms. When such arms are found, states are required to seize
• and dispose of them.
• All states are called on to strongly discourage their nationals from traveling to Libya to contribute to human rights violations.

3) Imposes targeted sanctions on key regime figures

• Seventeen Qadafi loyalists are subject to an international travel ban.
• Six of these individuals, including Qadafi himself and his immediate family members, are also subject to a freeze of their assets.
• The Security Council commits to ensure that any frozen assets will be made available to benefit the people of Libya.
• A Sanctions Committee is established to impose targeted sanctions on additional individuals and entities who commit serious
• human rights abuses, including ordering attacks and aerial bombardments on civilian populations or facilities.

4) Provides for humanitarian assistance

• All states are called upon to work together to facilitate humanitarian assistance and support the return of humanitarian agencies.
• The Security Council expresses its readiness to consider additional measures to achieve the delivery of such assistance.

5) Commits to review the measures

• The Security Council will keep these sanctions under review and strengthen, modify or lift them in light of the situation.