Human Rights Solidarity (HRS) has expressed deep concern over the mistreatment and abuse of migrants in Libya by human traffickers amid claims of being sold as slaves in "public auction".

In a statement Friday, the HRS, called on the Presidential Council to carry out a full investigation into the alleged trade auctions to ensure that all suspected perpetrators are held responsible.

While condemning these abuses, the organization also expressed concern about the "irresponsible" statements included in the CNN report, which it said put Libyan lives at risk.

The teams on the ground inspected and monitored the conditions of several detention centres across the country for over a year, and despite some serious violations, claims of slave marketing being common and held openly were baseless, the human rights group said.

It noted that it had forwarded reports to the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), and for some cases, the OHCHR was alerted to help.

"In several communications and meetings with OHCHR staff, we asked OHCHR to press IOM staff to sit and talk to the detained migrants, especially the most vulnerable, women and unaccompanied minors, but so far, the IOM did not respond."

The problems noted by the HRS in detention centers include a shortage of food and water, a lack of health services, and untrained guards with no knowledge of how to run such centers.

The organization called on all parties to assume their responsibilities towards migrants in countries of source, destination, and transit.

Regarding an EU proposal to establish asylum processing centres in Libya, the HRS criticized the plan saying it would only increase the suffering of migrants and mount up Libya's problems.

"The plan of the European Union to set up special centres in Libya to process applications for asylum and migration will only lead to trapping more migrants in Libya, in a country facing tremendous security, political, social and economic challenges".