UN office flags 'ruthless and systematic' abuses of migrants in Libya

The United Nations flagged a report from the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Support Mission in Libya that describes widespread and systematic rights abuses against migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Libya.

At the briefing the spokesperson (Steph) said the report documents practices including torture, killings, sexual violence, trafficking, forced labour, forced prostitution, ransom, extortion and confiscation of belongings and identity documents. The spokesperson said the report alleges migrants are rounded up and abducted by criminal trafficking networks often with ties to Libyan authorities and criminal networks abroad, detained without due process and subjected in detention to horrific abuses.

The spokesperson described the report as "horrific reading" and said it requires further attention; the briefing directed listeners to more information online but did not announce new UN measures or immediate actions in response to the report.