United Nations, Dec 7 (AFP) The UN Security Council todaysaid reports that migrants detained in Libyan camps were beingsold into slavery could amount to "crimes against humanity" ina joint statement of condemnation.
It follows global shock over the atrocities suffered inLibya by African migrants, many of whom are trying to reachEurope, brought home by a CNN report showing people being soldas slaves.
The council said it "condemns such actions as heinousabuses of human rights which may also amount to crimes againsthumanity," according to the statement, which was drafted byGreat Britain.
It added it was essential "to transfer detainees to Stateauthorities and encourages the Libyan authorities to reinforcetheir cooperation with international organization and UNagencies and to ensure humanitarian access to detentioncenters."Since the 2011 collapse of the Moamer Kadhafi regime,Libya has been riven by fighting between militias which holdcaptives. Libyan authorities exercise little control overthem.
"The Security Council emphasizes that a stable Libya isthe only way to help improve the living conditions of allpeople in Libya, including migrants," the resolution added.
It is rare for a UN resolution to single out a specificcountry when talking about slavery, a phenomenon that isnormally discussed in the context of global rights abuses.
(AFP)NSA.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.