” This book was born from rage, from grief and from the refusal to remain silent. It was born from the betrayal we witnessed and lived—at the hands not only of militias, traffickers and governments, but of the very institution that claimed it was there to offer protection: the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). (…) The UNFAIR campaign sought to show how UNHCR has not only failed to protect but has actively collaborated with the European border regime that funds, manages, and weaponizes containment. This Book of Shame is part of that campaign. (…) The Book of Shame is not neutral. It is not balanced. It is not written in the language of polite advocacy. It is what must be said, by those who have been ignored for too long. (…) May it be a weapon, a record, a fire. May it burn away the silence. And may it clear the ground for something just to grow.“
These strong words originate from the introduction of the “Book of Shame,” which was presented by Refugees in Libya for the first time on 12th of September 2025 during a press conference in front of the UNHCR headquarters. Based on hundreds of personal testimonies, it is an impressive document that points a finger at the abusive practices of this agency in Libya, Tunisia, and Niger.
A life-connection was organized at the same time to Agadez, where several hundred refugees protested against the treatment by UNHCR, and to amplify their voices. Ten days prior, a common manifesto was published to express unity and to raise concrete demands: “We are Refugees in Libya, Refugees in Tunisia and Refugees in Niger, three self-organized refugee movements demanding our basic human rights and struggling against injustices experienced in the treatment by UNHCR. (…) Here are our demands to UNHCR: Recognition, denunciation of abuses, improved services, respect and transparency…(followed by a concrete list on these four topics)“.
Picture: Demonstration of Refugees in Niger in the camp of Agadez, 12th of September 2025
On September 12, UNHCR staff in Geneva finally offered to have a face-to-face meeting with a delegation from Refugees in Libya. In this talk, the representatives appeared self-critical, willing to improve services for refugees, while complaining about the cuts in funding for their agency and their lack of resources. This must be followed up on the ground to show if change will happen, or if such insights were just empty words.
The next day, on the September 13, a small demonstration started in front of the headquarters of IOM, an even worse agency of migration control. The march passed near the “broken chair“, where an “all eyes on Gaza“ camp was taking place. In mutual solidarity several activists joined the UNFAIR demonstration, which ended in front of the UNHCR building for another demonstration with banners and speeches to amplify the demands.
Picture: Demonstration in Geneva, organized by Refugees in Libya
Background information for the protests: https://www.refugeesinlibya.org/from-tripoli-to-geneva-2
Common manifesto: https://www.refugeesinlibya.org/post/manifesto-unfair-campaign
Download for the “book of shame“: https://www.refugeesinlibya.org/book-of-shame
Alarm Phone Central Mediterranean group
