The UN is investigating reports of a mass grave along the Libya-Tunisia border after at least 65 migrant bodies were discovered at another site earlier this year. While speaking at a Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva, the organization’s human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the incident and denounced the widespread abuse of migrants in Libya, including trafficking, torture, forced labor, and mass expulsions. He stated that abuses against migrants were being committed by both state and non-state actors. He then urged Libyan authorities to respond to inquiries and investigate the crimes. During her session, Libya’s Justice Minister Halima Ibrahim Abdulrahman asserted her country’s commitment to human rights. However, her Tunisian counterpart did not address Turk’s points during his speech, even though Tunisia is Libya’s partner in Europe’s drive to curb the influx of migrants from Africa. Details on the mass grave remain sparse, with the UN awaiting more information.
SOURCE: REUTERS