A UN human-rights report published on 17 February 2026 chronicles a “brutal and normalised” model of exploitation of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in Libya between January 2024 and December 2025 (OHCHR, 17 February 2026). Based on nearly 100 interviews, the report documents killings, torture, sexual violence, enforced disappearance, trafficking and extortion, often within facilities and trafficking hubs tied to armed networks with links to officials.

The account paints detention centres and hangars as commercial nodes in a market that profits from interception, ransom and forced labour, with women and children particularly vulnerable to sexual violence. At-sea interceptions and forcible returns amplify risks, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for suspension of interceptions to Libya until robust safeguards exist (Volker Türk, statement, 17 February 2026).

The international response must bridge humanitarian relief with accountability. Ending this cycle will require interdiction of transnational criminal networks, impartial investigations into collusion by officials, and regional cooperation to guarantee rescuers’ access and non-refoulement.

Source, OHCHR report, 17 February 2026