Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Political Affairs, Officer-in-Charge of UNSMIL, Stephanie Koury, has emphasized the unwavering commitment of UNSMIL and the larger UN family to supporting the key role Libyan women play in the political process.
"UNSMIL's mandate is clear: to work with Libyan institutions and authorities to ensure full, equal, effective, meaningful, and safe participation of women at all levels, including in leadership positions and in all decision-making relating to inclusive political processes, democratic transition, reconciliation efforts, conflict resolution and peacebuilding,” Koury said in a recorded message.
She spoke on Thursday at a consultative session hosted by UNSMIL in Tripoli and bringing together 28 prominent women from the House of Representatives, High Council of State, and Civil Society Organizations representing the western and southern regions of Libya.
The session, held ahead of the launch of an inclusive, intra-Libyan political process, focused on identifying key priorities to be addressed at the current juncture of Libya’s transition and ways to ensure effective representation and meaningful political participation of women, UNSMIL said in a statement.
The participants engaged in productive discussions with the UNSMIL team, drawing on good practice and lessons learned from previous political processes. They highlighted the importance of women's active involvement at all stages in political, economic, and security tracks, both in short-and-longer-term, the statement said.
In the coming days, a similar session is planned for eastern Libya to engage more women leaders and activists, it added.
