The situation in Libya is escalating with mass killings of protestors, resulting in the commission of crimes against humanity. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation calls upon the UN Security Council to invoke the principle of 'Responsibility to Protect' to deal immediately with the threat posed to international peace and security.

A number of Libyan diplomats and the Justice Minister have quit their positions in protest against the indiscriminate brutal gunning down of protestors by Colonel Muammar Gadaffi's regime.

Conservative figures from credible sources indicate that at least 250 people have died in the violent crackdown by the government that began a week ago. Others estimate a much higher death toll that is growing hourly. Libya's Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations, Ibrahim al Dabashi, has described the situation in the country as "genocide". Two senior Libyan fighter pilots have defected to Malta refusing to obey orders to rain bombs on the protestors. There are also reports of mercenaries being unleashed on the protestors, and helicopter gunships and snipers carrying out wanton killings.

"The international community cannot afford to look the other way while Gadaffi's henchmen mow down unarmed civilians on the streets", said Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General of CIVICUS. "Failure to act will not only result in the deaths of large numbers of innocent people, which constitutes a crime against humanity, but will also embolden other despotic regimes to use similar measures against their populations".

Following the 2005 World Summit on Human Rights, the international community made a historic commitment to prevent genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity through the doctrine of 'Responsibility to Protect'.

Heads of state and government agreed that states have the primary responsibility to prevent the above crimes and the international community should encourage or assist states to exercise this responsibility. But when a state manifestly fails in its responsibilities then the international community must step in and if necessary use collective force through the UN Security Council to protect the adversely affected people.

"This is an extraordinary situation of mammoth proportions and certainly not a domestic matter. The ongoing cruel and wanton murder of protestors by Libyan government forces is a serious risk to humanity that the UN Security Council must address forthwith", said Netsanet Belay, Policy and Research Director at CIVICUS.

CIVICUS calls upon the UN Security Council to treat the ongoing atrocities in Libya as a threat to international peace and security and act in accordance with Chapter 7 of the UN Charter by taking appropriate non-military and military action to restore peace and security for the people of Libya.

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation is a global movement of civil society with members and partners in over a hundred countries.