PL | EN

Serious human rights violations in Libya

A new report by Amnesty International denounces serious human rights violations committed in Libya to migrants who are intercepted at sea while trying to reach Europe. The 58-page report, entitled “Between Life and Death”, details “horrific abuses“, including unlawful deprivation of liberty, killings, sexual violence and forced labour, such as women working as housekeepers who were sexually harassed or men who reported being beaten and prevented from eating during detention.

The research is based on the information provided in interviews with 43 individuals, including 32 migrants and 11 people who had access to migrants of detention facilities such as NGO staff, activists and journalists, as well as the review of official documents issued by national and international organisations and verified multimedia material, including satellite footage.

It was launched on September 24, following the announcement of the European Commission of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum. Amnesty International condemned EU cooperation with Libya and criticises the EU member states that “have trapped” migrants in Libya, “to reduce the number of people irregularly arriving in Europe by sea,” the document reads. 

In 2008, Italy signed a deal with Libya, granting it $5 billion, to stop migrant boats from leaving the Libyan coast. Since the fall of Gaddafi in 2011, amid the instability of the war, people from African and Middle Eastern have used Libya as a transit point to Europe. In a recent speech quoted by UN news, Faiez Mustafa Serraj, President of the interim government for Libya, called the report “exaggerated”, arguing Libya is a victim of migration, not the cause.

More about: Migration
Read also
Egypt, Cuba and Argentina’s fight against the economic crisis
Egypt, Cuba and Argentina’s fight against the economic crisis
In response to inflation and the decline in the purchasing power of the Egyptian pound in relation to the dollar, the inhabitants of Egypt are looking for a safe place to invest their assets, so they trade in gold, real estate and cars. The Egyptian authorities increased the aid agreement with the International Monetary Fund […]
Hybrid work, pay raises and the AI revolution in the labor market
Hybrid work, pay raises and the AI revolution in the labor market
According to the results of a yet unreviewed experiment at Trip.com, those employed in a hybrid work model were happier and less likely to leave the company than those who worked only in the office, and the overall productivity of both groups was the same. Meanwhile, a series of studies, for example, on call centre […]
Ibogaine, counting butterflies, menopause and depressive disorders
Ibogaine, counting butterflies, menopause and depressive disorders
Scientists studying ibogaine, a psychedelic substance, report its possible therapeutic potential in the treatment of addictions and post-traumatic stress disorder. In the small studies conducted so far, where opioid addicts were given ibogaine, from ⅓ to ⅔ of people from the study group were cured. However, the psychedelic can cause fatal heart rhythm disturbances, making […]
The European food crisis and controversial airdrops in the Gaza Strip
The European food crisis and controversial airdrops in the Gaza Strip
European officials, food safety experts, and industry representatives recently gathered in Brussels to discuss potential solutions to a looming food crisis in Europe. The pandemic has created several challenges, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, disruptions to shipping routes and supply chains, and unpredictable and extreme weather conditions. Sadly, in 2022, weather and climatic events in […]
Jellyfish protein in forensics and DNA extraction after fires
Jellyfish protein in forensics and DNA extraction after fires
Scientists are studying brain injuries caused by domestic violence. Approx. ⅓ of women report having experienced severe physical violence from a partner, and most of them have suffered at least one traumatic brain injury (TBI). Symptoms often resemble those seen in athletes or military personnel. However, the brains of domestic violence victims were more likely […]
Previous issues