Libyan women leaders and activists gathered in Tunis, Tunisia, to mark the International Women’s Day.
The meeting provided a forum for the Libyan women - members of civil society organizations, independent activists or government employees - to share their experiences, assess the progress they made so far and the challenges they encountered in their path towards leading positions and in advocating for equal partnership in their society.
The event was organized by the Women’s Empowerment Section of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Netherlands Government.
Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNSMIL, Martin Kobler, expressed his full support for the efforts of Libyan women to achieve equal partnership. “I encourage you to keep promoting the case of women in peace and Security. You have my full support to go on with your fight for your rights.”
Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and the Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya, Ali Al-Za’atari, called for increased participation of Libyan women in State institutions: “It is a difficult mission but it is not impossible, and its achievement falls on the shoulders of both women and men,” Al-Za’atari said.
Libyan women participants also had the opportunity to discuss women issues in Libya with members of the Constitution Drafting Assembly who attended the event. The participants demanded more participation for women in leading positions and called for a united and peaceful Libya.
(Source: UNSMIL)
