The Head of the National Commission for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL), Ahmed Hamza warned of the random influx of illegal migration to the country.
He described the phenomenon as a “time bomb,” calling on the Libyan authorities to intervene to resolve the crisis.” Now, not tomorrow, this problem must be dealt with carefully before it explodes. It is a ticking time bomb,” he said.
On the other hand, the International Organization for Migration in Libya (IOM) announced that 3,897 migrants were intercepted in the Mediterranean and returned to Libya, in 2023.
The IOM added that 236 migrants died at sea, while 174 people were missing. Among those intercepted were 99 children and 181 women.
In March, an investigator for a UN Fact Finding Mission (FFM) stated that the European Union had “aided and abetted rights breaches against migrants, by supporting Libyan authorities that halt and detain refugees.”
Via the Italian government, the EU and its member states have backed and trained the Libyan Coast Guard, which transports migrants apprehended at sea back to detention facilities.
The investigator, Chaloka Beyani was speaking following the presentation of a report by the FFM. The mission claimed crimes against humanity were committed against migrants in these detention facilities.
Moreover, the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) to Libya expressed its deep concerns over the country’s deteriorating human rights situation.
In its final report, the Mission stated that “there are grounds to believe a wide array of war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed by state security forces and armed militia groups.”
It noted that investigations “documented numerous cases of arbitrary detention, murder, rape, enslavement, extrajudicial killing, and enforced disappearance.” As well as noting that nearly all survivors interviewed had refrained from lodging official complaints, out of fear of reprisals, arrest, extortion, and a lack of confidence in the justice system.
“Migrants, in particular, have been targeted and there is overwhelming evidence that they have been systematically tortured. The report said there were reasonable grounds to believe that sexual slavery, a crime against humanity, was committed against migrants,” the statement added.
Mohamed Auajjar, the Mission’s chair said that “there is an urgent need for accountability to end this pervasive impunity.”
He also called on Libyan authorities to “develop a human rights plan of action, and a comprehensive, victim-centred roadmap on transitional justice without delay, and hold all those responsible for human rights violations accountable.”