The United Nations has renewed calls for Libya to shut down its migrant detention centres, where rights groups allege that migrants and refugees are being tortured, abused, and in some cases, killed.
During a UN review session, countries including Britain, Spain, Norway, and Sierra Leone expressed grave concern over the treatment of migrants in Libya, a key transit hub for Africans fleeing conflict and poverty in hopes of reaching Europe.
Reports indicate that some migrants have been held in warehouses by traffickers, subjected to violence and extortion. A Dutch court case recently revealed harrowing details of the abuses, while a UN agency confirmed that bodies found in mass graves bore gunshot wounds.
Norway’s ambassador urged Libya to end arbitrary detentions, while Britain called for UN investigators to be granted unrestricted access to detention sites.
In an open letter, human rights organisations accused armed factions of operating with impunity, committing widespread abuses, and obstructing justice.
Libya’s acting foreign minister, Eltaher Salem Elbaour, acknowledged the country’s ongoing challenges but maintained that Tripoli’s UN-backed government is working to ensure human rights are respected during its fragile political transition. He cited ongoing cooperation with the International Criminal Court and the establishment of a joint committee to oversee detention centres.
Libya’s human rights record is currently under review as part of the UN’s Universal Periodic Review process, which scrutinises all 193 member states. The United States notably skipped its own review session last week.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
