The United Nations and several member states have renewed calls for Libya to shut down its migrant detention centres amid mounting evidence of torture, abuse, and killings.
During a UN human rights review in Geneva, countries including Britain, Spain, Norway, and Sierra Leone voiced concern over the mistreatment of migrants and refugees in Libya — a major transit hub for Africans trying to reach Europe.
Rights groups and UN agencies have documented harrowing conditions in the centres, with some migrants reportedly held by traffickers in warehouses, subjected to violence and extortion. A recent Dutch court case revealed further evidence of abuse, while UN investigators say bodies found in mass graves bore gunshot wounds.
Norway’s ambassador urged Libya to end arbitrary detentions, while Britain called for UN investigators to be granted full and unhindered access to detention facilities.
In an open letter, human rights organizations accused armed groups of operating with impunity, blocking justice, and committing widespread violations.
Libya’s acting foreign minister, Eltaher Salem Elbaour, admitted that the country faces serious challenges but said the UN-backed government in Tripoli is taking steps to improve human rights conditions. He cited ongoing cooperation with the International Criminal Court and the creation of a joint oversight committee for detention centres.
Libya’s rights record is currently under scrutiny as part of the UN’s Universal Periodic Review, which examines all 193 member states — a process the United States notably did not participate in last week.
