Libya Migrant Slave Auction Video Sparks International Outrage

According to a UN News Centre report, two UN agency chiefs addressed the Security Council, Tuesday, saying that the UN is stepping up its efforts to put an end to the abuse faced by migrants and refugees residing along the Central Mediterranean routes which included the alleged slave trading which is taking place in Libya.

The meeting held in New York at the UN Headquarters, was in response to growing international concerns about risks facing migrants and refugees, brought into the spotlight by recent news reports and videos showing African migrants in Libya allegedly being sold as slaves.

A video footage of men being auctioned as slaves in Libya resulted in massive outrage from international communities and on social media.

The video footage was originally shown earlier this month in an exclusive CNN report named "People for sale" where journalists investigated a slave auction taking place in Libya.

According to a Reuters report, France demanded the imposition of targeted sanctions on human traffickers in Libya, from the UN Security Council on Tuesday. The issue was discussed at a meeting on human trafficking in Security Council on the request of France where the French UN Ambassador Francois Delattre said, "France will propose to assist the sanctions committee... in identifying responsible individuals and entities for trafficking through Libyan territory."

Delattre added, "We count upon support of the members of the council to make headway to that end."

According to the report, France could suggest some names who are to be targeted by the UN but they would need consensus from all the 15-member nations in the Security Council.

The report also said that while some council members supported France for the imposition of sanctions, there were some members who wanted the council to make a statement first. Britain, France and Sweden were drafting a statement, the report added.

Sweden’s Deputy UN Ambassador Carl Skau said, "We all have a responsibility to act. This is not the moment to pass the buck."

Libyan officials denounced the fact that there was a migrant slave auction, but they called for more support from the international communities to address the issue.

The United Nations-backed Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) said in a statement that Libya "is going through difficult times which affected its own citizens as well. It is, therefore, not fair to assume responsibility for the consequences of this immigration, which everyone unanimously agreed that addressing this phenomenon exceeds the national capacities."

The statement continued, "We affirm again that the practical solution is to address the real reasons that drive people to leave their home countries, treat them and develop final solutions for them.”

The video led to huge protests and also resulted in the United Nations (UN) taking hardcore steps against slavery and human rights abuse against migrants.

The video which showed an unidentified Nigerian man being auctioned led to protests in France where hundreds of people, took to the streets and protested in front of the Libyan Embassy in central Paris on Nov. 18.

According to a report by The New York Times, the protestors carried signs which said "Put an end to the slavery and concentration camps in the Libya." They also shouted slogans which said, "Free our brothers!"

The French police officers had to resort to tear gas to disperse the rally which turned violent.

Foreign Minister of the Republic of Chad and the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemned the "despicable acts" and called for "an immediate end" to these practices in a statement, Nov.18.

He also said that the African Union would work effortlessly to bring such acts to an end and "ensure the respect of the most basic human rights."

According to an Independent report, UN Secretary-General António Guterressaid in a statement, "I abhor these appalling acts and call upon all competent authorities to investigate these activities without delay and to bring the perpetrators to justice. I have asked the relevant United Nations actors to actively pursue this matter."

He also said that "slavery had no place" in the world and the actions shown in the video are some of the most "egregious abuses of human rights" which can be perceived as crimes against humanity.

The report also quoted Human Rights Watch researcher Hanan Salah who said that "the people are rightfully outraged."

After the video was released, many took to social media condemning the issue. There were tweets that showcased solidarity where Libyans posted pictures of them with people of African descent. They used the hashtag #LibyansAgainstSlavery.