European Search and Rescue Teams Cut Ties with Libyan Authority Amid Concerns of Human Rights Abuses.
A coalition of 13 European search and rescue organizations has formed the Justice Fleet, a new alliance aimed at upholding human rights and international maritime law. In a bold move, the group announced that it is severing ties with Libya's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), citing years of "escalating human rights violations" against refugees and asylum seekers attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
According to an NGO spokesperson, the JRCC cannot be considered a legitimate rescue authority due to its alleged involvement in violent acts, including shooting at boats carrying refugees, abandoning people at sea, and hindering rescue operations. The Libyan coastguard has been linked to at least 60 violent maritime incidents between 2016 and September this year.
The decision by European search and rescue teams comes as a significant blow to Libya's efforts to manage the flow of migrants seeking to reach Europe. Rights groups have long documented systematic abuse against refugees and migrants in Libya, including torture, rape, and extortion.
In recent years, the EU has provided financial support to the Libyan coastguard, leading to concerns that this support is enabling human rights abuses. The phasing out of state-run search and rescue operations has made journeys across the Mediterranean increasingly perilous, leaving many people stranded in Libya.
The Justice Fleet's decision highlights the growing frustration among NGOs and European governments over the EU's handling of migration issues. As one spokesperson noted, "Ending all operational communication with the so-called Libyan Rescue Coordination Centre is both a legal and moral necessity – a clear line against European complicity in crimes against humanity."
A coalition of 13 European search and rescue organizations has formed the Justice Fleet, a new alliance aimed at upholding human rights and international maritime law. In a bold move, the group announced that it is severing ties with Libya's Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC), citing years of "escalating human rights violations" against refugees and asylum seekers attempting to cross the Mediterranean.
According to an NGO spokesperson, the JRCC cannot be considered a legitimate rescue authority due to its alleged involvement in violent acts, including shooting at boats carrying refugees, abandoning people at sea, and hindering rescue operations. The Libyan coastguard has been linked to at least 60 violent maritime incidents between 2016 and September this year.
The decision by European search and rescue teams comes as a significant blow to Libya's efforts to manage the flow of migrants seeking to reach Europe. Rights groups have long documented systematic abuse against refugees and migrants in Libya, including torture, rape, and extortion.
In recent years, the EU has provided financial support to the Libyan coastguard, leading to concerns that this support is enabling human rights abuses. The phasing out of state-run search and rescue operations has made journeys across the Mediterranean increasingly perilous, leaving many people stranded in Libya.
The Justice Fleet's decision highlights the growing frustration among NGOs and European governments over the EU's handling of migration issues. As one spokesperson noted, "Ending all operational communication with the so-called Libyan Rescue Coordination Centre is both a legal and moral necessity – a clear line against European complicity in crimes against humanity."
. like, its completely unacceptable 2 see ppl being shot at, left stranded @ sea, & tortured just 4 tryna reach europe 
. EU's been accused of enableing these abuses by funding the libyan coastguard & i gotta say, it sounds super sus to me 
. justice fleet's decision 2 sever ties is a major step towards holding those in power accountable 4 their actions 
. we need 2 keep pushing 4 more transparency & action on this issue 
. btw, have u followed the story of migrants stuck in libya? its heartbreaking 
. i mean, 60 violent maritime incidents? that's insane 
. we gotta stand with these organizations fighting for human rights 
. btw, have u heard of the justice fleet? they're like a coalition of rescuers fighting back against the system 
. We can't just turn a blind eye to human rights abuses, no matter how complex the situation gets. It's like, we gotta draw a line in the sand and say, 'This ain't right.' The fact that these teams are willing to take a stand and risk being seen as 'complicit' in crimes against humanity shows us that sometimes you gotta put your values first 
. It's like, if we want to make a difference, we gotta be willing to take risks and challenge the status quo.
. We all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, no matter where we come from or what our circumstances are. So let's use this as a lesson to re-evaluate our own values and actions, and make sure we're doing the right thing 
.
. It's like they're playing with people's lives out there. The EU giving them money to help with migration is supposed to be helping, but if it's just enabling abuse and human rights violations, then that's a problem. I get why the search and rescue teams are cutting ties – it's not right what's happening. But at the same time, you've got to consider the bigger picture here. There needs to be a way for people to safely cross the Mediterranean without putting themselves in harm's way. Can't we find a better solution that doesn't involve countries like Libya? 
the fact that they're severing ties with libya's JRCC is like, super necessary. i mean, we all know libya's got a bad rep when it comes to treating refugees and asylum seekers... 
it's just not right. 
the eu needs to do better in supporting these organizations instead of just enabling human rights abuses. 
and let's be real, 60 violent maritime incidents is wild 
we need more accountability, not less! 
I'm not surprised by this move. It's about time these rescue teams spoke out. The EU's been enabling Libya to do its dirty work, and it's shocking that they kept backing them all these years. 60 violent incidents is a big red flag - how many more lives would be lost if those people had just left the coastguard alone? 
. It feels like the EU is trying to solve one problem (migration) by creating another (more refugees stuck in Libya). I hope these search and rescue teams are prepared for some serious backlash from the Libyan government 
The Justice Fleet's move is totally justified - it's about time someone stood up for those refugees and asylum seekers who are trying to make a new life for themselves. We should be supporting organizations that care, not ones that just see them as numbers or pawns in a game of politics. 
it's crazy that EU funding for Libya's coastguard has been linked to so many human rights abuses. Like, who's next? 
just thinkin... if europe can't even trust libya's coastguard to keep ppl safe, what's gonna happen next? 
. Are they really just trying to uphold human rights and international maritime law, or is this just another way for NGOs to get involved in something that's not entirely their domain? And what about the EU's role in all of this? They're the ones who are providing financial support to the Libyan coastguard... doesn't that make them complicit in any wrongdoing?
.
I'm no expert on human rights or search and rescue operations, but it sounds like Europe's got its hands full dealing with Libya. I mean, who wants to be associated with a Libyan authority that's basically saying "Hey, we'll shoot people trying to reach Europe" 
.
They can just sort themselves out, ya know?