Libya is facing renewed international pressure to shut down detention centers where migrants and refugees are reportedly being tortured, abused, and, in some cases, killed.
At a United Nations session, countries including Britain, Spain, Norway, and Sierra Leone raised alarms over the treatment of migrants in Libya, a major transit point for Africans fleeing conflict and poverty on their way to Europe.
Reports reveal that some migrants are held in warehouses by traffickers, facing violence, extortion, and other abuses. A Dutch court case and UN investigations have exposed grim details, including bodies found in mass graves with gunshot wounds.
Norway’s ambassador called on Libya to end arbitrary detentions, while Britain demanded that UN investigators be given full, unrestricted access to detention centers.
Human rights organizations say armed factions operate with impunity, blocking justice and committing widespread abuses.
Libya’s acting foreign minister, Eltaher Salem Elbaour, acknowledged the country’s challenges but said Tripoli’s UN-backed government is working to uphold human rights during a fragile transition. He highlighted cooperation with the International Criminal Court and a new joint committee to oversee detention centers.
Libya’s human rights record is currently under review as part of a UN process evaluating all 193 member states a review the United States notably skipped last week.
