The Human Conveyor Belt: the Industrialisation of Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Post-­Revolution Libya

Residence Palace – International Press Center, Brussels 17th March 2017, 9.30am – 11.30am 

The Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime and the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM) are pleased to invite you to the launch of “The Human Conveyor Belt: the industrialisation of Human Smuggling and Trafficking in Post‐Tevolution Libya”.

The Central Mediterranean from Libya to Italy route remains the deadliest irregular sea crossing in the world, with more than 5000 drowned in 2016. Yet the scale of suffering at sea is only part of the perilous experience of migrants transiting through Libya: as many, if not more, die crossing the Sahara; others are subject to brutal detentions and violent abuse at the hands of Libyan militia.

This new report analyses the political economy of Libya’s trafficking industry. It presents the state of affairs on the ground in Libya’s coastal smuggling hubs as well as on its Southern borders. By mapping the actors involved, their inter‐connections and the flow of smuggling profits, the report is able to highlight the important implications that the smuggling industry will have, not only for Libya’s transition, but also for long‐ term stability and human security across the Sahel­‐Maghreb.

The event featured:

• Opening remarks from Global Initiative Deputy Director Tuesday Reitano, co‐author of Migrant, Refugee, Smuggler, Saviour, a much‐heralded book exposing the working of smuggling networks to Europe;
• A feature presentation by Mark Micallef, report author and Executive Director of Migrant Report, of the main research findings and implications.
• Reflections on the implications for EU and international policy responses by Ms. Anna Knoll, Programme Manager with the ECDPM Migration Programme.

The full report can be found here.