The accounts emerged during regular visits to 11 detention centres in Libya, and in interviews with migrants in Italy — a EU country that some migrants reached — and Nigeria, where others were repatriated.

“The overwhelming majority of women and older teenage girls interviewed by UNSMIL reported being gang raped by smugglers or traffickers or witnessing others being taken out of collective accommodations to be abused,” the report said. Spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani confirmed that the abuse was sexual.

The report builds upon recent concerns expressed by U.N. officials and advocacy groups. The head of the U.N. refugee agency, Filippo Grandi, said in October that Libya — the main launch point today for migrants hoping to cross the Mediterranean Sea — has strengthened its coast guard in recent months, but not its other institutions.

Alluding to a similar joint study published two years ago, the report said Libyan authorities “have thus far appeared largely unable or unwilling to put an end to violations and abuses committed against migrants and refugees.”

It also offered recommendations.

“Libya’s approach to managing migration must be overhauled, with human rights protections placed at the centre of response plans” the report said. It called for the decriminalization of irregular entry into the country and the release of all migrants detained “arbitrarily.”

Until then, it said, women should be separated from male detainees, “guarded only by adequately trained female officers.”

As for the EU, the report said the bloc should set up “independent monitoring mechanisms” to ensure human rights protections along with its “donor agreements” with Libyan authorities and others. The EU should also “refrain from encouraging a shifting responsibility for search and rescue operations in international waters” to the Libyan coast guard, it said.

Countries of origin should improve regional co-operation and better inform migrants of the risks they run, the report said.

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This story has been corrected to say the majority either were gang-raped or witnessed others being taken to be abused, not that all were gang-raped themselves, which was based on an incorrect U.N. press release.

Jamey Keaten, The Associated Press