TRIPOLI, Libya, November 21, 2017/APO Group/ --

Statement by the Secretary-General on reported news of slavery in Libya:

I am horrified at news reports and video footage showing African migrants in Libya reportedly being sold as slaves. I abhor these appalling acts and call upon all competent authorities to investigate these activities without delay and bring the perpetrators to justice. I have asked the relevant United Nations actors to actively pursue this matter.

Slavery has no place in our world and these actions are among the most egregious abuses of human rights and may amount to crimes against humanity

Slavery has no place in our world and these actions are among the most egregious abuses of human rights and may amount to crimes against humanity.

I urge every nation to adopt and apply the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its protocol on trafficking in persons and the international community to unite in fighting this scourge.

This also reminds us of the need to address migration flows in a comprehensive and humane manner: through development cooperation aiming at addressing its root causes, through a meaningful increase of all the opportunities of legal migration and through an enhanced international cooperation in cracking down all smugglers and traffickers and protecting the rights of their victims.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).