IOM efforts to help improve the protection of migrants and tackle
human trafficking in Libya are being boosted by the provision of
one million US dollars in new funding.

The US State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and
Migration (PRM) and its Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI)
have each provided USD 500,000 to IOM for programmes that will
build and consolidate the capacity of government bodies and civil
society in Libya to help address irregular migration and protect
the most vulnerable migrants in the North African country,
including victims of trafficking.

With some 4,000 kilometres of land and 1,700 kilometres of sea
borders, Libya is both a destination and a transit country for
migrants. Irregular migrants are drawn to Libya not just for its
proximity to southern Europe, but also by the demand for unskilled
labour and the strength of the local economy, and are estimated to
number between 1 and 1.5 million.

Through a PRM-funded programme focused on improving migrants'
protection and preventing irregular migration, IOM will provide
training for relevant government interlocutors and religious
personnel on migration issues including counter-trafficking.

The Organization will also provide direct assistance for those
in Libyan centres for irregular migrants. Working in close
partnership with the Libyan Red Crescent and a leading Libyan
non-governmental organization (NGO), World Islamic Call Society
(WICS), the programme also includes a research study on migrants
and the broadcasting of TV spots on the dangers of irregular
migration.

A second programme funded by MEPI will focus on reinforcing the
judicial and prosecutorial capacities to combat human trafficking
through training and on promoting revised legislative and
operational measures to protect victims.

NGOs will also be given training on how to identify victims of
trafficking while 20 identified victims of trafficking will be
given shelter and assistance to return to their home countries.

The long-term objective of the programme is to balance
prosecution and protection efforts and to involve both government
and NGOs in ensuring effective referrals and successful
prosecutions.

For further information, please contact:

Francesco Lembo

IOM Libya

Tel: +218 21 477 7838

E-mail: "mailto:flembo@iom.int">flembo@iom.int