EU risks fuelling horrific abuse of refugees and migrants in Libya

Amnesty International accused the European Union in June 2016 of indirectly supporting attacks on refugees by Libya's security forces, due to its cooperation with the country's authorities.

The report published by the organisation shows that the EU's plans to cooperate with Libyan transitional government on migration policy harmed refugees, as thousands of people were indefinitely detained in very poor conditions in Libyan prisons and suffered under systematic ill-treatment carried out by security personnel.

The European Union announced in May 2016 it would extend Operation Sophia, aiming at tackling trafficking in the Mediterranean, and increase its collaboration with the Libyan coastguard, exchanging information on popular routes and training local personnel.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Mediterranean death toll soars as 204,000 cross in first 5 months of 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/mediterranean-death-toll-soars-as-204000-cross-in-first-5-months-of-2016/

ESO: Background information: Council conclusions on EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-council-conclusions-on-eunavfor-med-operation-sophia/

EurActiv, 15.06.16: EU willing to pay ‘almost any cost’ to stop refugees http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-willing-to-pay-almost-any-cost-to-stop-refugees/

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