Human Rights Solidarity calls on the Human Rights Council to establish an International Commission of Inquiry into the Bombing of the Detention Centre of Illegal Migrants in Tajoura

In a statement[1] delivered today by Ms. Alaa Hasi, Human Rights Researcher at Human Rights Solidarity (HRS), called on the Human Rights Council (HRC) to establish an international commission of inquiry into the bombing of the detention centre which killed and wounded “more than 120 migrants”. The statement of HRS came during the general debate on the “Human rights situations that require the Human Rights Council’s attention”, Item 4 on the agenda of the 41^st regular session of HRC.

HRS expressed its deep concern at the grave violations of the rights of the illegal migrants in detention centers in Libya, which have been exacerbated in the Western Region since the beginning of last April because of the armed aggression of the militias of the retired Maj Gen Khalifa Haftar on the capital Tripoli, and also because of the increase in the numbers of Migrants in detention centers as a result of the policies of some EU countries on the forcible return of migrants intercepted in international waters to Libya.

HRS also called on the HRC to demand that the European Union must review its immigration policies and stop returning migrants to Libya, because Libya is not a port of safe return for migrants. HRS described the European Union’s policy of forcing migrants to return to a country suffering from the scourge of war and insecurity, and then condemning the violations, described that as double standards.

Meetings of the 41st Regular Session of the Council started on 24^th June and will continue until 12^th July.

 

Human Rights Solidarity

Tripoli – Libya

 

 

 

 

 

Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health – Geneva (GIWEH) & Human Rights Solidarity (HRS)

 

Mr. President, we at the Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health – Geneva (GIWEH) and Human Rights Solidarity Organization (HRS), express our deep concerns about the grave violations of the rights of illegal migrants in detention centers in Libya[1], which have been exacerbated in the western region since the beginning of last April, because of the armed aggression by the rebel militias on Tripoli.

There are approximately 700 Thousand migrants[2] currently in Libya, around 4000 of them are in detention centers[3]. The number of migrants in detention centers has increased due to the policies of some EU countries on the forced return of migrants intercepted in international waters to Libya. As the High Commissioner stated[4] “Libya is not a port of safe return.” for migrants. Last night, more than 120 migrants were killed or wounded in an air raid on a detention center for migrants in Tripoli.

Mr. President, we call upon your distinguished Council to establish an international commission of inquiry into the bombing of the detention center, to demand that the Libyan authorities must respect the rights of migrants in detention centers, to provide them with full care and protection, and to end the situation of indefinite detention. We also call upon the Council to demand that the EU must review its immigration policies and stop returning migrants to Libya.

The European Union must fulfill its legal and moral obligations. Forcing migrants to return to a country suffering from the scourge of war and insecurity, and then feign condemnation of the violations they suffer is double standard.

Thank you

[1] The statement was presented by Ms, Alaa Hasi on behalf of the Global Institute for Water, Environment and Health – Geneva (GIWEH) & Human Rights Solidarity (HRS).

[1]  UNSMIL and UN OHCHR: “Desperate and Dangerous: Report on the human rights situation of migrants and refugees in Libya”, 18 December 2018.

[2]  International Organization for Migration (IOM): “Libya — Migrant Report 24 (Jan – Feb 2019)”, 15^th April 2019. The report identified at least 666,717 migrants currently present in Libya.

[3]  OHCHR: “Situation of human rights in Libya, including the implementation of technical assistance and capacity-building and efforts to prevent and ensure accountability for violations and abuses of human rights – Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights”, 4^th February 2019. Page 7 “Numbers [of migrants in detention centers] generally fluctuated between about 4,000 and 9,000, with a notable rise during summer months when thousands of migrants were intercepted/rescued at sea by the Libyan Coast Guard and brought back to face indefinite detention in Libya.”.

[4] OHCHR: “Opening statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet at HRC41”, 24^th June 2019. “In Libya, the surge of conflict around Tripoli, which began in April, has serious impact on civilians, and migrants continue to be subjected to arbitrary detention in shocking and degrading conditions. I have received reports of many recent deaths in detention, as well as torture, sexual violence, and the trafficking and sale of children, women and men. Libya is not a port of safe return. The international community must come together to support pathways to sustainable peace in the country.”.