Barkawi was shot by gunmen on Thursday in Derna, in eastern Libya, where the violence has escalated in recent days. She is the second prominent woman to be assassinated in Libya in less than a month.

On 25 June 2014, prominent rights and political activist Salwa Bugaighis was shot dead in her Benghazi residence after casting her vote in the country’s parliamentary elections.

“UNSMIL is particularly disturbed by the deliberate targeting by assassination of women activists,” it said in a statement issued in Tripoli.

The Mission deplored the escalating violence in Benghazi and Tripoli, which it said was causing casualties among civilians and driving families out of their homes. It called on all sides for a cessation of hostilities.

“The United Nations reiterates its call upon all sides to refrain from all kinds of violence and demands that measures be taken to ensure the protection of all civilians during this current armed conflict.”

The recent turmoil has reportedly been some of the worst fighting since the 2011 uprising that ousted former leader Muammar al-Qadhafi and the North African nation embarked on its democratic transition.

A resident of Tayuri stands against a bullet-riddled wall of his house, part of which was destroyed during clashes in Libya. Photo: IRIN/Zahra Moloo