![Up to 77% of migrants face abuse, exploitation and trafficking - Refugee crisis, Libya - Cartoon [Hani Abbas/MiddleEastMonitor]](https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/28279815_10156218002046926_8610574968093096974_n.jpg?fit=563%2C800&ssl=1)
Thousands of Libyans are being “arbitrarily” held in prolonged detention by armed groups across the country, the UN said in a report yesterday.
The UN Human Rights Office said in its report that the detainees are being subjected to torture and other human rights abuses.
“Men, women and children across Libya are arbitrarily detained or unlawfully deprived of their liberty based on their tribal or family links and perceived political affiliations,” the report said, adding that “the victims have little or no recourse to judicial remedy or reparations, while members of armed groups enjoy total impunity.”
Read: Libyans called upon to participate in constitution referendum before elections
The report pointed out that the phenomenon of hostage-taking for ransom or prisoner swaps is also common.
According to the report, as of October 2017 some 6,500 people were being held in official prisons, supervised by the judicial police of the Ministry of Justice. “These facilities are notorious for endemic torture and other human rights violations or abuses,” it added.