Refugees and Migrants
Every day across the world people make the difficult decision to leave their homes. War, persecution, environmental disaster and poverty are just some of the reasons why a person might feel that they have to leave their family, community or country. Amnesty International campaigns for the rights of refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and migrants around the world and exposes human rights abuses and failures in their protection.
Refugees forced out of Libya urgently need resettlement.
Thousands of refugees and asylum-seekers living in Libya when the conflict broke out have been forced to flee for their lives yet again.
Many are now stranded in Egypt and Tunisia. Amnesty International delegates visited Choucha refugee camp in Tunisia and Saloum Border post in Egypt to listen to the refugees there.
They come from countries such as Cote d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia and Sudan. They cannot go home, cannot return to Libya and cannot stay where they are. The only durable solution to their displacement is to be resettled in a safe country elsewhere.
Amnesty International has researched the issue and is calling on the international community, particularly on EU member states, to resettle refugees fleeing Libya as a matter of urgency. Please read our campaign digest
In Pictures: Inside Egypt and Tunisia's refugee camps
Audio of Eritrean refugee speaking from Tunisia
The Wire Oct/Nov Issue: Focus on refugees displaced from Libya
Blog on the 'double' refugees of Choucha camp
Read report 'The Battle for Libya: Killings, Disappearances and Torture'
Migrants
Migrants leave their country of origin to live in another one, either temporarily or permanently. They may be compelled to leave because they do not have access to adequate means of livelihood, or in order to ensure the safety and security of themselves and their families. They may move to take up employment, or to be reunited with family members. Many leave for a combination of reasons. Most find themselves in low-paid jobs that can be dirty, dangerous and degrading. Some find themselves in situations that amount to modern-day slavery. Only the lucky few have secure jobs and secure legal status in the country of migration. People often have more than one reason for leaving their home. Whatever the reason, all have human rights and all should be protected.