A group of 60 Libyan judges and prosecutors are being provided
training by IOM on various aspects of irregular migration,
including human trafficking, in a bid to enhance their
understanding of the phenomenon that also affects their country.

Libya, a migrant transit and destination country, has an
estimated 1– 1.5 million irregular migrants, many of whom are
en route to Europe. Although the scale of human trafficking in
Libya is unknown, the majority of known cases have involved labour
or sexual exploitation of migrants from Sub-Saharan countries.
However, recent trends reveal that victims are now also coming from
Asia, namely Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

The government, in a bid to fight the phenomenon, is working on
legal provisions that would punish traffickers and assist their
victims. The IOM training of the judges and prosecutors provides
initial sensitization to international conventions, including the
UN Palermo Protocol on human trafficking until the laws come into
force.

The training, part of a broader IOM counter-trafficking
programme in Libya funded by the US State Department (GTiP), also
includes a study visit to Italy to allow participants to witness
some best practices in countering human trafficking.

IOM is also working to strengthen the civil society response in
tackling human trafficking by building their capacity, enhancing
cooperation and communication between all those involved in
addressing the issue and on raising awareness of the crime.

For further information, please contact:

Michele Bombassei

IOM Libya

Tel: +218-927405371

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