![]() ![]() The Mission reiterated its call on the authorities in Benghazi, where the two high-profile crimes took place, to “adequately investigate” them and bring the perpetrators to justice. The report documents “systematic” discrimination against women, a rise in domestic violence, which is not punished by any comprehensive law, and a lack of accountability for crimes against prominent women leaders, such as the enforced disappearance of member of parliament Sihem Sergiwa nearly four years ago, and the killing of Hannan Barassi in 2020. Women’s rights going in reverseĪccording to the Mission, the situation of women in Libya has only worsened over the past three years, in a context of a “weakening of State institutions” amid the rising power of armed groups. Most of those interviewed by the Mission were held without charge in horrific conditions, “ subjected regularly to torture, solitary confinement, held incommunicado” and denied access to water, food and other essentials.Ĭhildren walk past damaged buildings in Benghazi in Libya. ![]() The report notes that victims “came from every segment of Libyan society and included children, adult men and women, human rights defenders, political participants, civil society representatives, members of military or security forces, legal professionals and persons of perceived or actual diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.” The “widescale” exploitation of migrants is a lucrative business, the Mission said, noting that “trafficking, enslavement, forced labour, imprisonment, extortion and smuggling generated significant revenue for individuals, groups and State institutions.” Abuses in detentionĭetention-related violations were also found to affect Libyans on a large scale, and the Mission points to the responsibility of State authorities and their leadership. The Mission interviewed more than 100 migrants over the course of its investigations and its report points to “overwhelming” evidence of systematic torture and sexual slavery, among other violations.ĭetention centres in which migrants were enslaved were “under the actual or nominal control” of the authorities, including the Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration and the Libyan Coast Guard. The report notes that more than 670,000 migrants from over 41 countries were present in Libya in the period since July 2022, when the Mission’s mandate was last extended, until March of this year. As a result, the violations continue “unabated”, the Mission said.Īs its mandate comes to an end next week, the Mission called for the creation of new rights monitoring and investigation mechanisms, to “support Libyan reconciliation efforts” and help the authorities achieve “transitional justice and accountability.” Widescale exploitation of migrants The Mission which has reported since 2016, noted that accountability for the violations was severely lacking, as most survivors were too afraid and mistrustful of the justice system to officially report the abuse. Libya has been in turmoil since the ouster of former long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi, with the country divided between rival administrations and warring militias, with a UN-recognized Government of National Accord based in the capital Tripoli and the forces of General Khalifa Haftar’s so-called Libyan National Army holding sway in the east and southern areas of the oil-rich nation. “We call 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.” “There is an urgent need for accountability to end this pervasive impunity,” said Mohamed Auajjar, the Mission’s chair. In addition, the Mission states for the first time that sexual slavery was committed against migrants. It documents the “widespread practice” of arbitrary detention, murder, torture, rape, enslavement and enforced disappearance in the country.
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