Amnesty calls for Libya, Europe to unite to save migrants

Amnesty International has appealed to Libyan and European leaders to take urgent action to protect migrants and refugees from the horrific human rights violations in Libya.

In an urgent appeal yesterday, the rights group revealed that more than 5,000 migrants and refugees are stranded in Libya at the mercy of militias and armed groups. As a result they are suffering horrific human rights abuses.

The appeal called to “release migrants and refugees from detention centres and end arbitrary detention targeting them in Libya”. It also demanded that “all allegations of torture, ill-treatment of refugees and migrants in Libya be investigated and that those suspected of such acts be prosecuted in a transparent and impartial trial in order to put an end to this vicious circle of violations.”

The organisation also called on Libyan and European leaders “to review how they cooperate on migration policies, and give priority to the protection of human rights of refugees and migrants, rather than besiege those people in Libya.”

AU: Over 13,000 migrants repatriated from Libya this month

The report called to “formally recognise the UNHCR and allow it to carry out its work fully, including the protection of asylum seekers and refugees.”

Torture, detention, exploitation and rape have become daily atrocities for many refugees and migrants in Libya, Amnesty said.

The organisation criticised the European role in dealing with the issue of migrants in Libya, saying that instead of putting an end to these abuses, Europe is “helping Libya to besiege those living in hell”.

“By training and providing the Libyan coastguard with ships to transport migrants back to the country, European leaders are contributing to unspeakable suffering,” it said.

According to the report, more than 5,000 migrants and asylum seekers are currently held in detention centres without details of when they will be released.

The conditions are utterly inhumane – with little access to food, water or medical care. They face brutal treatment; torture, rape – and even being sold.

The International Organisation for Migration said earlier that thousands of African migrants have abandoned their hopes of reaching Europe, having been raped tortured and suffered extortion in Libyan detention centres.