The European Union-African Union (AU)-United Nations Tripartite Task Force on the Situation of Migrants and Refugees in Libya called, on Monday 20 March, for “urgent action” to address the pressing needs of migrants and refugees in Libya.
“The international community and the Libyan authorities must work together to improve the situation of migrants and refugees in Libya”, the joint statement underlined.
The Task Force calls on the international community to support the Libyan authorities in the fight against human trafficking and smuggling of migrants, calls for increased use of emergency transit mechanisms in Niger and Rwanda, and stresses the need to provide tangible support, including by considering the expansion of legal, safe and regular access routes for migrants and refugees.
The Task Force reaffirmed the commitment of its members to support the Libyan authorities in their response to urgent needs on the ground, announcing that they will intensify their efforts to assist in the development of non-discriminatory legal and policy frameworks for migrants and refugees “with the aim of protecting and saving lives along the migratory routes and particularly in Libya”.
The members of the Task Force urged the Libyan authorities to put an end to the arbitrary detention of migrants and refugees. They expressed their readiness to assist the authorities in setting up practical alternatives such as community reintegration or accommodation in Migrant Response Centres (MRCs).
The Task Force further pledged to support the Libyan government’s efforts to improve migration governance and border management while promoting full respect for the human rights of refugees and migrants and access to protection. It also committed to support stepping up voluntary humanitarian returns from Libya.
See the press release: https://aeur.eu/f/5wy (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)