On Monday, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) confirmed that more than 1,600 migrants have been trafficked in Libya, between 2020 and 2022. It added that most of these migrants originated from Nigeria, Somalia, and Sudan.
The IOM pointed out that there were more men than women among the identified victims. However, “proportionately women were more at risk of exploitation, based on the overall migrant gender demographics in Libya.”
In a report to provide an overview of trafficking, the IOM explained that the most common forms of exploitation identified were kidnapping for extortion, forced labour, and sex trafficking.
Notably, the Head of the National Commission for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL), Ahmed Hamza described human trafficking as “one of the most heinous crimes and violations of human dignity.” He added that cases “have escalated in Libya during these years, due to the security chaos, lack of control over the borders, and the accumulation of migrants and asylum seekers in Libya.”
On the occasion of the International Day Against Human Trafficking, the NCHRL added that this year’s topic focuses on the role of technology. This was a double-edged tool in relation to the issue of human trafficking, as it may be used to facilitate or reduce it.
“Let us work together to take advantage of the Internet and the means of communication, to mitigate the risks of victims of this crime,” the NCHRL official said.
Recently, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that a total of 9,000 migrants, including 656 women and 342 minors were returned to Libya, after being rescued off the country’s coast in 2022.