As European states continue to focus on deterrence policies, migrants and refugees rescued off the coast of Libya en route to Europe are ending up in increasingly dire conditions in Libya’s 18 detention centres. Subject to physical and sexual abuse and suffering severe malnutrition, detainees are held for long periods without trial or access to lawyers or family members.
Based on interviews with humanitarian workers in Libya and human rights activists, this Humanitarian Practice Network article calls for immediate, concerted action to address this humanitarian and human rights crisis.
Sherine El Taraboulsi