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UN human rights office: migrants in Libya subjected to systemic violence, abuses

Reuters WORLD
Published February 17,2026
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Migrants onboard a crowded rubber boat wait as crew members of the "Ocean Viking" rescue ship carry out a rescue operation in the search-and-rescue zone off the international waters of Libya, on January 16, 2026. (AFP File Photo)

The United Nations' Human Rights Office said ⁠on Tuesday ⁠that migrants in Libya are subjected to systematic ⁠human rights violations including killings and torture, calling for an end to interceptions and ⁠returns of migrants' ⁠boats at sea.

According to a report by the UN Human Rights Office ⁠and the UN Support Mission, migrants are rounded up and abducted by criminal ⁠trafficking ‌networks, ‌often with ⁠ties ‌to the Libyan authorities, and ⁠criminal networks ⁠abroad.