Global Pressure Mounts on Libya to Close Abusive Migrant Centers

Libya is facing intensified international scrutiny to dismantle detention facilities where migrants and refugees are reportedly subjected to severe abuse.

Several nations at the United Nations raised alarm over the treatment of these vulnerable people in Libya, which serves as a major gateway for Africans seeking asylum or fleeing poverty toward Europe.

Allegations of Abuse and Torture

Countries including Norway, Spain, Britain, and Sierra Leone spoke out forcefully against the conditions. A court case in the Netherlands recently brought forth grim details concerning the treatment of individuals. Furthermore, a U.N. agency reported finding bodies in mass graves bearing evidence of gunshot wounds.

Some migrants, reportedly held captive in warehouses by trafficking networks, have been subjected to both violence and financial extortion.

Norway’s ambassador specifically urged the Libyan authorities to cease arbitrary detentions. Britain called for U.N. investigators to be granted unrestricted access to the facilities across the nation.

In a joint open letter, several rights organizations accused various armed groups of operating without consequence, obstructing justice, and committing widespread abuses.

Government Acknowledges Challenges

Libya’s acting foreign minister, Eltaher Salem Elbaour, conceded the nation faces significant struggles. However, he maintained that the U.N.-backed government in Tripoli is actively working to guarantee human rights are upheld during the country’s delicate transition period.

The minister cited ongoing cooperation with the International Criminal Court. He also mentioned the establishment of a new joint committee specifically mandated to oversee the conditions and practices within migrant detention centers.

Libya’s human rights record is currently undergoing a standard review process at the U.N. This process scrutinizes the compliance of all 193 member states. It was noted that the United States notably chose not to participate in its own review last week.

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