United Nations investigators are looking to verify the reports of migrant mass graves in Libya, as it is a human trafficking hotspot with many incidents of rape, torture, and murder. The Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya was requested by its government and instituted by the UN starting in June 2020 to investigate possible violations of international human rights and humanitarian law since 2016. The UN released a report on current findings earlier this month with information regarding violations from political instability to serious physical harm done onto thousands.
The final report will be released in June when the mission is finished. Despite the investigation, violence continues according to the interim findings, with experts focusing on the cities of Bani Walid, and Tarhouna, where there have been hundreds of disappearances dating back to 2015. Mohamed Auajjar, the Chair of the mission in Libiya and former Moroccan justice member, reported that there are “consistent patterns of serious human rights violations” against migrants in government-run detention centers. The ongoing investigations are revealing more graves from evidence that various Non-Government Organizations (NGO’s) have found, and they are received more information about other sites as well.
When bodies are discovered, they are transferred to hospitals in the area, exhumed, and released for burial. However, there is a large delay in identification due to lack of sufficient budget for training, and maintaining the facilities. The bodies are those of activists, protestors, migrants, refugees, children and bystanders that were taken by militia members and traffickers. These massive violations are the outcome of ongoing armed conflict and political turmoil in Libya. Although the means are major atrocities that need to be solved, their needs to be systemic intervention in their political systems to make sustainable long-term change.
Libya’s international conflict is nothing new, with the United Nations Security Council referring to this situation all the way back to 2011. According to BBC News, violent protests began in Benghazi when their longtime leader, Muammar Gaddafi died causing civil war between opposing governments. The rivalry came to head in 2014 between the powers in east and west Libya. Since then, the armed conflict has greatly impacted all aspects of life for Libyans’ economic, social, and cultural lives with attacks on hospitals and schools.
The mission was set to end in October 2021, but it was renewed by the UN to allow for a more complete investigation. According to the UN, both state and non-state actors arbitrarily arrest and detain human rights activists, migrants and refugees that are transferred to detention centers where they suffer these serious human rights violations. Bodies of the captured were reportedly dumped into these mass graves and are being discovered today. The problem of arbitrary detention and violence continues to ossur to anyone that is a perceived threat to the state.
Despite ongoing investigation, no solution has been presented. With the final review coming in June, we can hope to expect a plan above basic recommendations that are usually given at the end of UN reports. Auajjar has states that “In June, we will be able to announce concreate results… and name those responsible for these claims.” Yet there are little mobilization efforts put in place in similar situations. While specific entities and people could be condemned and proved guilty for the atrocities occurring, there needs to be ground level change implemented to make living more visible for the average citizen and migrant. The recommendations in the interim report call on Libya to end the violence on all people and enhancing their government judicial systems. They also request participation by both international communities and the UN to support Libyan development. However, there is still a major lack of accountability being proposed.
Part of the report acknowledges the Libyan government’s support of the mission, and that is essential to improving the situation. By including them as a collaborative role in ending the turmoil, they could allow for a safer passage of migrants through Libya. While this brings to light the much larger issue of refugee and asylum seeker documentation, there are improvements to their own local systems to prevent such violence from occurring. By utilizing foreign aid such as documentation systems for who the migrants are, where they are being detained, and where they are trying to go, they are less likely to disappear. Another important step is extending the investigation for at least another year to continue to document the situation, and determine the success of their accountability protocols.
Nevertheless, safe passage for migrants should be a globally supported effort by international rights campaigns, and the UN, especially when fleeing political turmoil. The actions committed by those illegally detaining and harming migrants are not only crimes, but also human rights violations. Additionally, funding also needs to go towards the facilities that will identify the bodies and help them be swiftly processed and be returned to their loved ones. This can be done through foreign aid of resources and expert personnel.
Life for people in Libya as well as migrants passing through hoping for a better life, presents itself as extremely challenging. They are consistently in fear for their lives by government entities, and it is now the job of foreign groups to support them. Calling upon the UN to not only present accurate facts and implement substantial change through accountability and funding is crucial.
