Eliminate Racial Discrimination in Libya

On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Lawyers for Justice in Libya (LFJL) highlights the ongoing abuse of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers (together, migrants). To address the urgent need for legal action to safeguard the human rights of migrants, LFJL is launching a campaign to provide routes to justice for migrants abused and tortured in Libya.

Libya remains the main transit country for migrants attempting to reach Europe through the Central Mediterranean route and an estimated 71% travelling via that route have faced human trafficking and exploitation. 700,000 migrants are currently thought to be in Libya, where they face arbitrary detention, physical and verbal mistreatment, sexual abuse, extortion and torture in official and unofficial detention centres. Dark-skinned migrants are particularly targeted and subjected to discriminatory treatment.

Despite the increased attention on the situation of migrants in Libya following an expose by CNN in November 2017, the situation has not improved. Options for accountability in Libya remain severely limited as the criminal justice system is at a standstill. At the same time, European states’ migration policies are worsening the problem and effectively containing people inside Libya.

“On the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, stand with LFJL as we provide routes to justice for the victims of these horrendous violations by seeking accountability internationally” commented LFJL’s Director Elham Saudi.

Please join us and support our #routestojustice campaign here and help us spread the word so that we can work towards eliminating racial discrimination in Libya.