A new report from the UN human rights office indicates that migrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers in Libya are subjected to severe human rights violations that have become entrenched in the system. These abuses, documented over the period from January 2024 to December 2025, include killings, torture, sexual violence, and trafficking. The report calls this exploitative environment a 'brutal and normalized reality' that targets individuals already in vulnerable situations, highlighting a stark violation of their rights.

The findings of the report are based on interviews with nearly 100 individuals from various countries including Eritrea, Somalia, and South Sudan. These accounts reveal a distressing pattern of abduction, arbitrary detention, and extreme maltreatment. One harrowing testimony from an Eritrean woman reflects the turmoil many face: 'I wish I died. It was a journey of hell', she stated regarding her six-week ordeal in a trafficking house in Tobruk.

The implications of this report are grave, highlighting the urgent need for international attention and intervention regarding the treatment of migrants in Libya. The systematic nature of these violations suggests that they are not isolated incidents but rather part of a larger, entrenched system that exploits the vulnerability of migrants and refugees. As Libya continues to be a focal point for migration in the Mediterranean, these findings raise critical questions about the responsibilities of both Libyan authorities and the international community in safeguarding human rights.