Migrants trapped in Libya, from where they are trying to reach Europe, are being reduced to sexual slavery, a crime against humanity, the UN mission of inquiry into the human rights situation in that country condemned on Monday.
The mission is deeply concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Libya and again concludes that “there are reasons to believe that a large number of war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed by state security forces and armed militias”. a statement made when its last report was presented.
Investigators explain that these abuses are committed “against Libyans and migrants throughout Libya” in detention centers.
The Mission documented and monitored numerous cases of arbitrary detention, murder, torture, rape, sexual slavery, extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances, confirming that these practices are widespread in Libya.
In particular, the Mission notes that “there are reasonable grounds to believe that sexual slavery, a crime against humanity, has been committed against migrants”.
According to the mission, the migrants have been enslaved in official detention centers as well as “secret prisons” where rapes, all crimes against humanity, are committed.
This human trafficking, slavery, forced labour, detention, extortion and smuggling of vulnerable migrants “generates significant revenue for individuals, groups and state institutions in prosecuting violators”.
“There is an urgent need for accountability to end this widespread impunity,” Mission President Mohamed Auajjar said in the statement.
“We call on the Libyan authorities to urgently develop a victim-focused human rights action plan and transitional justice roadmap and hold accountable all those responsible for human rights abuses,” he added.
The mission was set up by the Human Rights Council in 2020 to investigate human rights abuses committed by all parties in Libya since 2016. Since then, the mission has conducted over 400 interviews and collected over 2,800 pieces of information, including photos and videos.
She will pass on her information to the International Criminal Court, including the list of people who could be held responsible for the abuse, but is also calling on the UN to set up a new commission to continue the investigative work.