The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) has warned that the widespread and systematic abuse of migrants and refugees in Libya could amount to crimes against humanity, citing serious and repeated violations of international human rights and humanitarian law.
In a report published this month, the ICJ said it has documented grave abuses committed against vulnerable migrant populations by both state and non-state actors in Libya. These abuses include arbitrary detention, forced labor, torture, and sexual violence, all occurring within a pattern of impunity.
The report draws heavily on the findings of the United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya, which carried out investigations between June 2020 and March 2023 under the mandate of the UN Human Rights Council. That mission concluded its work with a stark warning: many of the violations committed against migrants in Libya are not isolated incidents, but rather part of a coordinated and systematic practice.
The ICJ emphasized that sexual violence—including rape and assault—is commonly used against detained migrants, often as a tool of intimidation or coercion. Journalists and other detainees have also been subject to similar abuse, the report found.
According to the ICJ, such conduct meets the threshold for crimes against humanity under international law, particularly given the scale, severity, and systematic nature of the violations.
The Commission has urged the international community to establish a mechanism for accountability and monitoring, especially after the UN Fact-Finding Mission’s mandate expired. Without such action, the ICJ warns, perpetrators will continue to operate with impunity, and victims will remain without recourse to justice.
Founded in 1952, the ICJ is composed of 60 senior judges and legal professionals from around the world, dedicated to promoting human rights through the rule of law.
