Breaking News English

UN horror at slave trade in Libya

Slave Trade - Level 0

The UN is shocked by reports of slavery in Libya. Refugees are sold in auctions every week. Most of them are African. Some have their kidneys removed. The UN is "horrified" by this. It has asked for an investigation into the reports. It wants quick action, to bring the criminals to justice.

Experts say this is a modern-day slave trade. It is like, "one of the darkest chapters in human history, when millions of Africans were…enslaved…and auctioned". The UN said: "Slavery has no place in our world." Slavery is a terrible abuse of human rights. It is a crime against humanity.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Slave Trade - Level 1

The UN is shocked by reports of slavery in Libya. Thousands of refugees are sold in auctions across Libya every week. Most of them are African men. There are also reports of people having their kidneys removed. These are sold illegally. The UN said it was, "horrified at news reports…showing African migrants in Libya…being sold as slaves." It asked for an investigation into these activities, without delay. It wants to bring the criminals to justice.

Experts want urgent action to stop this modern-day slave trade. It is similar to, "one of the darkest chapters in human history, when millions of Africans were uprooted, enslaved, trafficked and auctioned". People are being sold for up to $400 each. The UN said: "Slavery has no place in our world." It added that slavery is a terrible abuse of human rights and that it was a crime against humanity.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Slave Trade - Level 2

Slowest

The UN is horrified by reports of slavery in Libya. Thousands of African refugees are sold in auctions across Libya every week. Most of the people are black African men. There are also reports of enslaved people having their organs removed. These are sold illegally. In a televised statement, the UN said it was, "horrified at news reports and video footage showing African migrants in Libya reportedly being sold as slaves". The UN asked authorities to "investigate these activities without delay and to bring the [criminals] to justice".

Human rights experts said urgent action must be taken to stop this modern-day slave trade. They said slavery was now a terrible reality in Libya. They said the trade is similar to "one of the darkest chapters in human history, when millions of Africans were uprooted, enslaved, trafficked and auctioned to the highest bidder". People are being sold for up to $400 each. The UN said: "Slavery has no place in our world and these actions are among the most [terrible] abuses of human rights and…amount to crimes against humanity." It asked all countries to fight to end the slave trade.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Slave Trade - Level 3

The United Nations boss has said he is horrified by reports of slavery in Libya. Reports show thousands of African refugees are being sold in auctions and markets across Libya every week. Most of the people being sold are black African men. There are also reports of the enslaved people having their organs removed. These are sold on the illegal organ trade market. The UN's Antonio Guterres spoke in a televised statement. He said: "I am horrified at news reports and video footage showing African migrants in Libya reportedly being sold as slaves." He added: "I [hate] these appalling acts and call upon all…authorities to investigate these activities without delay and to bring the [criminals] to justice."

A group of human rights experts said urgent action had to be taken to stop this modern-day slave trade. The Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council said: "It is now clear that slavery is an outrageous reality in Libya. The auctions are [similar to] one of the darkest chapters in human history, when millions of Africans were uprooted, enslaved, trafficked and auctioned to the highest bidder." The enslaved men are reportedly being sold for between $300 and $400 each. Mr Guterres said: "Slavery has no place in our world and these actions are among the most [terrible] abuses of human rights and…amount to crimes against humanity." He asked all countries to fight to end the slave trade.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson