The NGO Amnesty International denounced in a report the
"terrifying cycle of violence"
suffered by thousands of refugees and migrants in Libya, calling on the European Union to review its cooperation with this North African country.
Libya has become a main route for irregular migration to Europe since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. The 2015 migration crisis led the EU to strike a controversial deal with Turkey to bring down the number of arrivals on the Greek coast.
Support, just as decried, was also provided to the Libyan coast guard so that they slow down landings on the Italian coast.
"Libya, which is a country torn by years of war, has become even more dangerous for refugees or migrants seeking a better life
,
"
Amnesty said.
“Instead of receiving protection, they are subjected to numerous and terrible human rights abuses,”
adds the NGO.
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"Despite this, even in 2020, the EU and its member states continue to apply policies that lock tens of thousands of women, men and children in a terrible cycle of violence,"
laments Diana Eltahawy, director Amnesty Regional Deputy for the Middle East and North Africa.
"The EU and its member states must completely review their cooperation with the Libyan authorities, and only provide them with further assistance if they take immediate action to end the terrible violence inflicted on refugees and migrants,"
Amnesty said. .
"Murders, enforced disappearances and torture"
The report cites in particular
"murders, enforced disappearances, torture and other ill-treatment as well as rape and other sexual violence, arbitrary detention, forced labor and exploitation at the hands of governmental and non-governmental agents in a climate of almost total impunity."
"Driven by the desire to stop arrivals at all costs, European states have offered aid to Libya
(...)
without this aid being subject to strict human rights guarantees"
, deplores Amnesty.
The NGO stresses that the promises of the Libyan authorities to investigate crimes against refugees and migrants
"have not made it possible to determine the responsibilities"
, he added.
Read also: Refugees from Turkey: from integration to instrumentalisation
The publication of this report comes after the announcement Wednesday by Brussels of its
"new Pact on migration and asylum"
.
The European executive in particular advocated reinforced controls on its external borders to remove more quickly migrants unlikely to obtain international protection.
The EU is aiming for
"increased efficiency in the returns"
of illegal migrants to their country of origin, said European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson.