(Milan, October 13, 2025) – Italy stands at a critical juncture regarding its inhumane migrant cooperation agreement with Libya, a pact that has perpetuated violence and suffering for vulnerable individuals seeking refuge. Human Rights Watch has issued a clarion call for Italy to revoke the Italy-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on migration cooperation, which is set to renew automatically for three years on November 2, 2025, unless either party takes decisive action to terminate or amend it.
Signed in 2017, this agreement has facilitated the provision of substantial material and technical support from Italy to the Libyan Coast Guard, an entity under the control of the UN-recognized Government of National Unity (GNU). This support has enabled the interception of tens of thousands of desperate individuals at sea, returning them to Libya—a nation where they face harrowing conditions of detention, rampant torture, and other forms of ill-treatment. The Libyan Coast Guard’s actions not only undermine human dignity but also pose a grave threat to humanitarian organizations attempting to rescue those in peril on the Mediterranean.
Judith Sunderland, the associate director for Europe and Central Asia at Human Rights Watch, unequivocally states, “The Italy-Libya Memorandum of Understanding has proven to be a framework for violence and suffering and should be revoked, not renewed.” This sentiment resonates deeply within the context of Italy’s moral obligation to uphold human rights and challenge complicity in the abuse of migrants.
Civil society organizations, including Refugees in Libya—comprised of survivors of violence—are mobilizing against this damaging agreement. Their collective voice demands that the EU suspend all migration cooperation with Libya, a necessary step to disentangle from this web of complicity that has normalized the abuse of human rights.
Further complicating the situation, Libyan migration officials from both the GNU and the Libyan Arab Armed Forces—representatives of the rival authority controlling eastern and southern Libya—are scheduled for meetings at Frontex headquarters in Warsaw and the European Commission in Brussels from October 14-16. It is imperative that EU officials leverage these interactions to emphasize respect for human rights and demand accountability for the atrocities committed against migrants.
Despite overwhelming evidence detailing the horrific realities faced by migrants in Libya, the EU continues to support Libyan forces in their efforts to detect and intercept boats, a policy that has dire implications for human life. This includes aerial surveillance conducted by the EU border agency Frontex over the central Mediterranean, enabling the systematic return of individuals to a situation fraught with abuse. The EU has, shockingly, spent hundreds of millions of euros to bolster migration control in Libya since 2015, demonstrating a troubling willingness to overlook human rights violations in pursuit of border security.
Recent events highlight the catastrophic consequences of this misguided policy. On August 24, a Libyan Coast Guard patrol boat, equipped with Italian resources, opened fire on the SOS MEDITERRANEE rescue ship, Ocean Viking, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the safety of those attempting to save lives at sea. This incident was not an anomaly; just weeks later, another Italian-built patrol boat targeted the Sea-Watch rescue ship. Yet, the European Commission maintains its stance, insisting that continued engagement is necessary to improve the situation. This rationale rings hollow in the face of ongoing violence and abuse.
Individuals forcibly returned to Libya are subjected to severe human rights abuses in detention centers controlled by unaccountable armed groups and militias. Reports of arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances, and unlawful deaths stemming from torture paint a grim picture of the systemic violence embedded within the Libyan state apparatus. Detainees endure inhumane treatment, including sexual violence, beatings, overcrowding, and forced labor—all while being denied access to legal counsel and basic necessities.
The United Nations has confirmed evidence of collusion between state forces, including the Libyan Coast Guard, and trafficking networks, asserting that these entities are likely responsible for crimes against humanity, including sexual slavery and rape. The implications of such findings demand urgent action, and the continued support for these abusive forces is indefensible.
Sunderland’s call to action is clear: “The EU and all of its member states, including Italy, should stop financing and legitimizing violence against migrants and fundamentally reorient its Mediterranean policies to prioritize rescue at sea and safe and legal pathways for migration.” This is not merely a policy recommendation; it is a moral imperative that speaks to the essence of our shared humanity.
Italy must take a bold step towards justice by terminating this damaging pact with Libya. The lives of countless individuals depend on it, and the integrity of our commitment to human rights hangs in the balance. It is high time for Italy and the EU to reevaluate their role in this humanitarian crisis and take meaningful action to uphold the dignity and rights of all individuals, irrespective of their migration status.
This article highlights the importance of END LIBYA PACT.
