European Parliament discusses human rights in ACP countries

On January 24, the European Parliament Committee on Human Rights (DROI) had an exchange of views on human rights in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Countries.The speakers discussed the Cotonou Agreement that governs the relations between the European Union (EU) and the ACP countries, and which expires in 2020. In the coming two years, a new text will be negotiated including changes and new additions to make it more applicable to the current ever-changing state of play.

News Highlights:Israeli pilots refuse to deport refugees, Libyan torture videos sent to family, missing migrant children in EU

In this week’s news highlights:Israeli pilots are refusing to deport Sudanese and Eritrea refugees; Eritrean president demands compensation fees, claiming Israel wants to deport Eritreans to Eritrea;; political relations around Eritrea are changing; South Sudan dangerous for aid workers; New … Continued

Videos of torture in Libya sent to refugee family members by human traffickers demanding ransom

Belgian media showed images of Sudanese refugees held captive and tortured in Libya, showing the reality of torture for ransom in the country. These articles explain how migrants and refugees in North Africa are promised safe passage to Europe by smugglers, but often their journey ends in the hands of human traffickers in Libya. Here they are imprisoned and tortured while their families back home receive the images, together with ransom demands. Research has indicated the involvement of the Eritrean and Sudanese regime in human trafficking.