A Libyan coast guardsman stands on a boat during the rescue of 147 illegal immigrants attempting to reach Europe off the coastal town of Zawiyah, 45 kilometres west of the capital Tripoli, on June 27, 2017 Migrants and refugees stuck in Libya are being sold into slavery, CNN reported earlier this month. The combination of Libya’s splintered government in the wake of Muammar Gaddafi’s fall and the influx of people from Nigeria has led to a situation where stranded men and women are being held against their will and, in some cases, sold into slavery or prostitution. “As shocking as it seems, it’s indeed true. The reason [the slave trade] can happen is because there is really no rule of law across much of Libya,” Leonard Doyle of the International Organization of Migration told Al Jazeera. Each year for the past three years, more than 150,000 migrants and refugees have crossed into Europe from Libya in hopes of making their way to a new life. It’s a treacherous journey. More than 3,000 people have drowned each of the past four years trying to cross the Mediterranean. Recently, with help from Italy, the Libyan coast guard has been capturing vessels smuggling people into Europe. It’s estimated that between 400,000 and 1 million migrants may now be trapped in Libya, where the vulnerable population is preyed upon by smugglers another criminal elements who rob, rape, and murder them. #prayforlibya #endhumantrafficking #libya #libyanslavetrade #slaveryinlibya #humantrafficking #thismustend #raiseawareness please share on social media, act by advocating against human trafficking and support organizations who rescue and bring aid. https://blavity.com/7-things-we-can-do-to-end-slavery-in-libya @freetheslaves
