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Migrants sold as slaves in Libya: Where is the outrage?
Other | Wednesday 29th November 2017 | Kiera Martin
The price of a life? As little as the equivalent of £660 in the North African region of Libya.
CNN recently published shocking footage of just a few of the thousands of refugees or economic migrants fleeing their countries in search of a better life, being auctioned as slaves. Used as a gateway to places such as Europe, Libya has become a target for smugglers to sell vulnerable migrants and refugees who have often spent everything they own on their journey to Europe.
The footage sparked outrage in Africa, with the United Nations Chief condemning the acts as the “most egregious abuses of human rights”. Protests on the streets of Paris – mostly by young black people – have incited an official investigation.
However, this begs the question – where is the real outrage? The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 abolished slavery throughout Britain nearly 200 years ago. Neither the British or US government condemned the act. There’s been a failure in government action and focus by the British media on the situation, and a lack of attempt to uncover similar crimes.
In 2017, can we really afford to be turning a blind eye to such abhorrent crimes? No, we can't, and if you want to make your voice heard and make a difference take part in the National Anti-Slavery March on December the 9th.
