- Target:
- Libyan gov, USDOS, UN, AU, EU
- Region:
- United States of America
A few weeks ago, a CNN investigation reported a slave auction in Libya, a place where African migrants are being sold and subject to inhuman and degrading treatment. The issue of slavery is not a new phenomenon for Africans worldwide, however this latest tragedy called upon us to stand up and unequivocally say “No to slavery” carried out by criminals and heartless people. Slavery has no place in a civilized society. We, the Africans in the diaspora, will not rest until the last African in Libya and other parts of the world is freed from this barbaric act of slavery. We, the sons and daughters of this great continent of Africa, will not rest until the African Union, , the European Union , the US , and the United Nations hear our cry for justice and equality.
As pointed out by the UN Secretary general in his brief at the Security Council on November 21, 2017, this is, “the international community’s collective responsibility to stop criminals and terrorists from preying on vulnerable populations and migrants."
Therefore we expect the international community to protect and value African lives like any other ones. As stipulated by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through the articles which follows:
Article1
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 2.
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedom set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
We believe these articles are not just empty words. Africans, the time has come to set aside our differences. Yes, brothers and sisters it is time for us to act now. We cannot afford to wait for our African Leaders who have failed us to react and act. We, Africans in the diaspora, have the power to bring the changes we are seeking.
On the occasion of celebrating International Human Rights Day on December 10 2017, we are urging all freedom loving people around the world to join efforts to demand the immediate release of all African migrants held as slaves in Libya. This is an assault on human dignity and a crime against humanity. We cannot tolerate any human rights violation that undermine the progress made under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948. http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/FactSheet2Rev.1en.pdf
Despite the global mobilization that ensued the CNN video exposing the enslavement of African migrants, many of them still remain in bondage. The situation remains deeply troubling. According to Nour Youssef, “the International Organization for Migration estimates that there are 700,000 to one million migrants in Libya, and more than 2,000 have died at sea this year."[1]
They are mainly from West Africa (men, women and children) who are trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, they end up falling into networks of smugglers who forced them into slavery, raped and tortured them.
The dehumanization and the degrading treatment they are subjected of is an assault on human dignity and a crime against humanity we must forcefully confront.
Please sign this petition to ask the Libyan government, The US Department of State, the United Nations, the African Union and European Union to take immediate and concrete measures to stop this human tragedy
United Africans Against Slavery in Libya
December 10th, 2017
New York
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Standing Against Slavery in Libya petition to Libyan gov, USDOS, UN, AU, EU was written by Bakary Tandia and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.