Doha: A top UN official yesterday called for immediate action to protect the human rights of smuggled migrants, particularly women and children and unaccompanied migrant children, in accordance with the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime and its Protocol against the smuggling of migrants by land, sea and air.
In a statement on the deaths of migrants off the coast of Libya, Yury Fedotov, Executive Director, UNODC, said “According to recent reports, 400 migrants have died off the coast of Libya when their boat capsized. I am saddened and horrified by this most recent tragedy, which follows many over the last year. Migrant smuggling cruelly exploits desperation and provides the criminal networks with enormous profits. Migrants can suffer inhumane conditions and torture during their journey.
“But we must also confront the criminals and break up their networks. This means cooperation among nations, inter-government organisations and civil society must be strengthened.
“UNODC is playing its role through a strategy to address migrant smuggling in the Mediterranean. But more is needed. We must all work to ensure that the perpetrators of these callous crimes that cause so many deaths are brought to justice.” The Peninsula
