Statement delivered by H.E. Micheal Kanu, Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone, on behalf of the A3+, at the Security Council briefing on Resolution 2240 (The Situation of Migrants and Refugees in Libya)
Mr. President,
I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Algeria, Guyana, Mozambique and my own country, Sierra Leone.
The A3+ wishes to thank the briefers, Director Dhapanala of UNHCR and Director Liljert of IOM, for their insightful and updated reports on the situation of migrants and refugees in Libya.
The unregulated migration flow through Libya to Europe has enabled the proliferation of organized smuggling and human trafficking networks, operating with impunity in blatant disregard of international law and human rights standards.
While acknowledging a notable decrease in migrant and refugee crossings, fatalities, and disappearances, according to the latest Secretary General report on this matter, we note with alarm that the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya continues to be the most perilous route to Europe, claiming countless lives.
Mr. President,
It is worth noting that this stark reality underscores the urgent need for collective, comprehensive, and sustained action to address the current crisis.
We, therefore, welcome the recently held Trans-Mediterranean Migration Forum in Tripoli, a crucial event that Libya has hosted and UNSMIL supported. This forum underscored the ongoing need for concerted efforts to address the complex realities of refugees and migration off the coast of Libya.
In this regard, we reaffirm our strong and urgent support for the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants.
In light of the fact that the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya remains a dangerous transshipment route for migrants and refugees, the A3+ underscores the need to prioritize a multifaceted response to the Mediterranean migrant crisis, focusing on:
1. Enhanced assistance and search and rescue operations to prevent losses at sea;
2. Robust protection mechanisms for vulnerable individuals, including refugees and asylum seekers and comprehensive humanitarian support, ensuring dignity and safety for those affected.
Concurrently, tackling the underlying drivers that compel individuals to risk their lives crossing the sea is vital.
This Council and the international community must therefore intensify our collective efforts to address the interlinked factors of conflict and instability, terrorism and violence, poverty and economic inequality, climate change and environmental degradation, among other pressing issues that force men, women, and children to flee their homes, seeking safety and better prospects.
In parallel, this Council and the international community must take measures to pursue, prosecute, and dismantle international human trafficking networks, ensuring that those responsible are held accountable for their crimes.
Mr. President,
The A3+ encourages the Libyan authorities, with the support of the international community, to continue their work to effectively improve the plight of migrants and refugees in Libya.
We call on the national authorities to ensure that migrants are protected against any human rights violations, including trafficking, torture, sexual violence, and extortion.
The A3+ also emphasizes the importance of designating safe ports for disembarkation. All migrants, regardless of their origin, faith, age, or status, should be treated with equal dignity and respect, in line with international law, human rights law, and refugee law.
To conclude, Mr. President, we urge Libyan political actors to intensify their collective efforts, to expeditiously stabilize the country. We firmly believe that stabilizing Libya will enable the country to assert control over its territory, dismantle smuggling and human trafficking networks, and alleviate the Mediterranean migrant crisis.
Thank you.