[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 122 (Thursday, July 19, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SUPPORT FOR H.R. 644, CONDEMNATION OF SLAVE AUCTIONS IN LIBYA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 19, 2018

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 644, to 
condemn the slave auctions of migrants and refugees in Libya. The 
legislation, which calls for multilateral action and support, takes an 
important first step towards ending deplorable human rights grievances 
in the country.
  In an era where most of us consider slavery to be a shame of the 
past, the photos, videos, and reports that have emerged out of Libya in 
the past year have rocked us to the very core of our humanity.
  What is happening in Libya is an unspeakable atrocity.
  Recent U.N. reports out of Libya detail sexual violence against the 
most vulnerable migrant populations--women and children--as well as the 
unlivable conditions in the detention centers where refugees are being 
held.
  People--human beings--are being bought, sold, and traded like 
chattel, on auction blocks, for their labor.
  This is nothing short of a humanitarian crisis.
  As a leader on the international stage, and as fellow human beings, 
our nation has a responsibility to speak out against such flagrant 
disregard for human life and freedom.
  I would like to thank my colleague, Karen Bass for offering H.R. 644 
to condemn the slave auctions of migrants and refugees in Libya, and 
for calling the world to action.
  I strongly encourage my colleagues in Congress to act, with a sense 
of urgency, to end these egregious human rights violations.

                          ____________________