David Yambio
President
David Yambio is a community advocate, human rights defender and spokesperson of Refugees in Libya. Born in 1997 during Sudan's civil unrest, he faced displacement and educational deprivation. He was forcibly recruited as a child soldier by the LRA in 2009-2010 and endured multiple conflicts in Africa including forced conscription in his country. David fled his country in 2016 and embarked on a perilous journey through several African countries, enduring torture, exploitation, and detentions.
He faced several rejections and pushbacks from the European borders back to Libya where he was enslaved and incarcerated.
After engaging with international organizations like UNHCR and IOM, David's advocacy work gained momentum in Libya, where he faced adversity for speaking out against human rights violations.
In 2021, he cofounded "Refugees in Libya," striving for policy changes and raising awareness about refugee struggles.
In 2022 he led a massive campaign against the UNHCR in Geneva titled “UNFAIR THE UN REFUSAL AGENCY” this led to the release of several arbitrarily detained refugees and rights defenders in Libya.
In June 2023 he led another political campaign against the European Union in Brussels under the banner “FROM TRIPOLI TO BRUSSELS AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF REFUGEES IN LIBYA” His activism led to the release of 221 human rights defenders and he now works for their relocation to safer countries. He was a fellow of Allianz Foundation from February 2023 - June 2024. And is currently a Global Fellow on International Crimes and Accountability with European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)
He is an advocate for the Pact for Equality which is supported by Avocats Sans Frontieres and European Alternatives.
He is a current Forum Member of European Philanthropic Initiatives for Migration (EPIM)
Lists of publications & the work of Refugees in Libya:
Al Jazeera
Mixed Publications
+393515129972