Pan African Parliament tackles the topic of human trafficking in special session day

At its second ordinary session in South Africa, the Pan African Parliament (PAP) dedicated a session day to the Theme of the Year 2019: “The Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”. The theme day included presentations and debate on the situations of displacement in Africa and the 1969 Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Refugee Convention, the Kampala Convention and the Global Compact on Refugees. In addition, speakers presented and debated on Regional Perspectives (Regional Econonomic Communities) and Programmes on Refugees, Returnees, Internally Displaced Persons and Statelessness. Human trafficking and its facilitation by technology was discussed.

News Highlights: Al-Bashir steps down, Libya crisis escalates, Detained refugees terrified amidst clashes in Libya

In this week’s highlights: President al-Bashir steps down after 3 months of protests; US delegation calls for the release of an American citizen who grew up in Eritrea; Eritrean Government accuses Turkey Qatar and Sudan of ‘subversive acts’ for backing Eritrean Islamists; Alan Kurdi rescue ship is still waiting for a safe port; Geneva Declaration on Human Rights at Sea is published by Human Rights at Sea; Report of the Roundtable “Inhumane treatments and trafficking of people in Libya: EU and EU Member states’ responsibility; Fighting continues in Libya; Human trafficking in the Mediterranean Sea operated by Libyan militia continues as conflict rages in Tripoli; Thousands of refugees in danger in Libya; Young Eritrean calls from detention centre in Libya.

Report of the Roundtable – Inhumane treatment and trafficking of people in Libya: EU and EU Member States’ Responsibility

On 1 April 2019, a Roundtable entitled “Inhumane treatment and trafficking of people in Libya – The EU’s and EU Member states’ responsibility” was held from 18:30 – 20:00 in the European Parliament. The event was hosted by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Marie-Christine Vergiat (GUE/NGL Group) and Ana Gomes (S&D Group) together with the organisation Europe External Programme with Africa (EEPA). Speakers in this event were,among others, representatives of Médecins Sans Frontières, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, expert on human trafficking, legal experts, a journalist and human rights activists.