French ambassador urges UN to impose sanctions on those involved in Libya slave trade

The growing concerns expressed by many after CNN investigation produced footage of human trafficking in Libya has forced France’s ambassador to the UN to call for sanctions against those behind the dastardly act.

Francois Delattre has urged the Security Council to impose sanctions on the people involved in Libya’s slave trade of African refugees and migrants which has become a burning topic.

“France will propose to assist the sanctions committee … in identifying responsible individuals and entities for trafficking through Libyan territory,” he told the council on Tuesday.

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“We count upon support of the members of the council to make headway to that end.”

According to those in the know, slavery and human trafficking have been present in Libya for years.

“This has been going for quite some time,” Omar Turbi, a Libyan human-rights defender, told Al Jazeera.

The modern-day slavery currently going on in Libya has also been condemned by other members of the UN Security Council.

“To see the pictures of these men being treated like cattle, and to hear the auctioneer describe them as, quote, ‘big strong boys for farm work,’ should shock the conscience of us all,” Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, told the Security Council last week.

“There are few greater violations of human rights and human dignity than this,” she added.

Turbi while speaking to reporters said Libya has over the years “struggled” with arms trafficking, drug trafficking and human trafficking even under ousted long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi.

 

 

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