The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has invited young Libyan women to participate in a critical dialogue session on 9 March, aimed at discussing governance, the economy, security, human rights, and national reconciliation.
The initiative forms part of the broader structured national dialogue process, designed to enhance the role of women in public affairs and ensure that Libya’s political future reflects the voices of all segments of society.
The session, organized by the Libyan Women’s Gathering, provides a platform for young women from diverse backgrounds to exchange perspectives, articulate priorities, and contribute recommendations on the country’s next steps.
UNSMIL urged participants to register in advance, highlighting that fostering women’s engagement in national discussions is vital for inclusive governance.
The initiative builds on extensive outreach efforts by UNSMIL, which has sought to ensure that women, particularly young females, women with disabilities, and those from historically marginalized regions, are actively involved in shaping Libya’s political roadmap.
In recent consultations, nearly 100 women, both inside and outside Libya, shared their insights on governance, economic development, security, human rights, and reconciliation.
The consultations underscored the importance of legal reforms, the enforcement of previous commitments to women’s quotas in legislative and executive bodies, and meaningful inclusion in security and economic institutions.
Participants stressed the need for a national constitution that integrates human rights considerations across all sectors and recommended establishing effective mechanisms to ensure that dialogue outcomes are implemented.
UNSMIL emphasized that these measures are not just symbolic. They form part of a broader effort to guarantee that women occupy at least 35 percent of seats across all structured dialogue tracks.
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, said, “Despite gradual progress, women in Libya still face systemic barriers to full participation in political institutions and decision-making processes.
We are committed to ensuring at least 35 percent representation in all four tracks of the structured dialogue. But beyond numbers, we want women’s priorities and recommendations to be heard and acted upon at every level.”
UNSMIL has launched initiatives such as the “Libyan Women’s Platform” and the “Libyan Women’s Gathering” to empower women legally, politically, and socially, while strengthening their ability to influence decision-making.
Through these efforts, women can consult with peers outside the formal dialogue structure, formulate joint positions, and access technical support for policy proposals.
The mission has stressed that inclusive participation, particularly by women and young females, is crucial to building sustainable peace, ensuring national ownership of reforms, while creating conditions conducive to reconciliation.
By placing women at the heart of structured political discussions, Libya is taking a step toward more representative, accountable and resilient institutions capable of serving the entire nation.
(Arab Weekly)
