We live in a time where news goes from bad to worse in the course of mere minutes some days. Most people would be somewhat jolted, but not surprised to hear about modern-day slavery around the world. What then, do we do about the recent videos that have surfaced showing African slaves being shackled and sold in present-day Libya? The images are reminiscent of the horrific history book illustrations we’ve all seen in school of the 18th century slave trade. There are many groups to blame for this low point in Libya, as the country is largely seen as a “failed state”, ravaged by Gaddafi, civil war, ISIS and Al-Qaeda militants. The discovery of their major human trafficking is not new, but with the release of footage of slave auctions by CNN investigative journalists, it seems impossible to me that the UN can ignore these atrocious human rights violations.
Libya’s complex recent history has made the country the perfect storm for desperation among its citizens and foreign refugees. Conflicting governments, the U.S. recognized “National Transitional Council” and the mostly militant "Khalifa Haftar government” make overcoming Libyan struggles an uphill battle. With the National Transitional Council fleeing from Tripoli and leaving it to different terrorist groups, the United Nations had to intervene again in 2016 to set up the Libyan Government of National Accord in the capital city, Tripoli. As a newly set-up government with precarious footing in the country, it is doubtful that the GNA has the capabilities to bring about any reforms or consequences to traffickers.
Without a working government, the UN and aiding nations will have to assist in justice seeking. The obvious route would be to help Libya by first aiding them in the restructuring of their government; however if the past can indicate the future, this may prove detrimental. In a "USA Today" column, writer, Glenn Reynolds places the blame for the present slave trade entirely on Hillary Clinton. Reynolds explains Clinton’s part in the overthrow of Gaddafi in 2011 may have led to trouble for the U.S. Despite the promise the Bush administration made to Gaddafi to leave him alone if he gave up his weapons of mass destruction, Clinton, during her time as Secretary of State, pushed for the operations that eventually killed Gaddafi. Many saw this as a victory. Unfortunately, the aftermath was arguably worse. Next came civil war and fleeing refugees to cause the perfect amount of unrest to beget ... slavery?
The CNN footage portrays sub-Saharan refugees being sold for around $400 a person. The young men are being marketed as “big strong boys for farm work” by the auctioneer. The slaves are refugees from other African countries trying to flee to Europe through Libya. Disgusted politicians and world leaders have responded with their disapproval and intentions to help Libya. Migration Chief of the European Union, Dimitris Avramopoulos, described the problem as not a problem for the EU “but, the responsibility of the whole world.” The GNA issued a statement that expressed their desire to end the human trafficking, but also stated their evident need for global help to solve these issues. The GNA also stated that the problem stems from the illegal refugees entering their country all together, “We affirm again that the practical solution is to address the real reasons that drive people to leave their home countries, treat them and develop final solutions for them." With almost a million immigrants in Libya, the need for resources to feed, detain, and deport these misplaced persons is scarce. Currently, all of the detention centers are full and the home countries of the expatriates are not generally cooperating with taking them back or aiding in costs.
To me, it is absurd to blame the degeneration to slavery on illegal immigration. If a child was trespassing through your backyard, would you wrangle them up and put them up for adoption? No, because that is insane for all moral and ethical purposes. To judge those so desperate for money and so desensitized to violence and hardships that they would sell another person is another story, however. The only change that would slowly affect Libya is through education and missionary efforts. When people aren’t starving, beaten down and ignorant, I genuinely don’t think they would sell their fellow man. Maybe this is a guileless perspective, but there is something all happy and prosperous places have and that is education for all, healthcare, and jobs to provide.
I understand this means a complete infrastructure revolution in Libya, but I believe that it should start with developed countries giving means of farming, food, and sending educators to help the youth in Libya before trying to patch a doomed immigration system. I don’t blame anyone trying to escape a troubled home, so for the migrants trying to make their way through Libya, it might be a lot easier if the Libyan government set up sanctions to help them instead of deporting them only for them to try again the next year. All in all, the work of charitable organizations sending means for change to Libya would be more beneficial than the government trying to crack down on immigration in the same ways they have been. Through slow development in Libya, I think human trafficking would soon see a major decline.
Though it may seem as if college students have no weight in world issues, the job of understanding and aiding in global crises will soon be ours. Future politicians, advocates, journalists, and ambassadors can not keep doing what has been done in the past because it hasn’t been working. Though the U.S. has had the ultimate goal of helping other countries in need, the results were useless wars and misunderstandings resulting in millions killed. With knowledge of the past and the present, we can go ahead and plan how to do things differently in places of power. Far away issues are not so detached from Columbia, South Carolina, because our voters and politicians need to keep in mind the small votes and progress that will have an eventual global impact. For example, our former governor, Nikki Haley, is now the U.S. ambassador to the UN. The beliefs and actions of our former governor could be the key opinions driving the solution to slavery in Libya. It all started with local votes.