Attack on Libyan migrant detention
centre
Statement by UN High Commissioner
for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet
3 July 2019
“I am shocked by the death and
injury of dozens of migrants and refugees in Tajoura Detention Centre which was
reportedly hit by an airstrike last night. The fact that the coordinates of
this detention facility and the knowledge that it housed civilians had been
communicated to the parties to the conflict -- indicates that this attack may,
depending on the precise circumstances -- amount to a war crime.
This is the second time that the
detention centre, which houses around 600 people, has been hit during the
current hostilities. I urge all parties to the conflict to abide by their
obligations under international humanitarian law, and to take all possible
measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools,
hospitals and detention facilities.
The principles of distinction,
proportionality and precaution must at all times be fully respected. Parties to
a conflict are obliged to take all feasible precautions to protect the civilian
population under their control against the effects of attack, including by
avoiding locating military objectives close to civilian objects.
I have repeatedly called for the closure of
all migrant detention centres in Libya, where UN human rights staff have
documented severe overcrowding, torture, ill-treatment, forced labour, rape,
and acute malnutrition, among other serious human rights violations. I also
repeat my call for the release of detained migrants and refugees as a matter of
urgency, and for their access to humanitarian protection, collective shelters
or other safe places, well away from areas that are likely to be affected by
the hostilities.”
ENDS
For more information and media
requests, please contact: Rupert Colville - + 41 22 917 9767 /
rcolville@ohchr.org or Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 /
rshamdasani@ohchr.org or Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / mhurtado@ohchr.org
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