Commissioner urges Italy to suspend cooperation activities with Libyan Coast Guard

The Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović in a letter sent to Italy’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio has urged the country’s government to suspend co-operation activities with the Libyan Coast Guard over human rights concerns.
According to the Commissioner, the assistance provided to Libya has resulted in several interceptions of migrants and asylum seekers at sea, followed by their return to Libya, where they are subjected to severe violations of their rights.
Mijatović highlighted in her letter the situation in the conflict-torn country and the risks it poses to human rights of migrants returning to its territory.
To this end, she called for the introduction of safeguards related to cooperation with third countries that will guarantee respect for human rights, including through the conduction of human rights risk assessments, the development of strategies to mitigate those risks and the establishment of monitoring mechanisms.
Mijatovic also pledged to continue seeking support from Council of Europe member states to countries in the frontline of migration movements to Europe.
After repeated calls by the Commissioner to cancel or modify the Memorandum of Understanding with Libya that facilitated interceptions of migrants and asylum seekers at sea, Italy proposed to the North African country a better migration management plan, that would align with international humanitarian provisions.