Stephanie Williams, the U.N. Advisor on Libya, has urged member states of the Security Council to “re-examine their policies that allow interception of refugees and migrants at sea and their return to Libya.”
In her report to the U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, Williams said she is “gravely concerned by the continuing violations of the human rights of migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Libya.”
“The situation is compounded by the range of State and non-State actors with unclear mandates that are operating detention facilities, and to which United Nations agencies have limited or no access.”
“Libyan authorities should ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to all refugees and migrants, particularly those arbitrarily detained, and to release and provide them with safe shelter,” said the U.N. diplomat.
“Meanwhile, Libya remains an unsafe port for disembarkation and relevant Member States should re-examine their policies that allow interception of refugees and migrants at sea and their return to Libya,” she said.