Women need better protection and support to be able to engage in the political process, say women in Tarhuna
'We know that Libyan women are very competent, but with the intimidation and threats, women are reluctant to step forward and engage in the political process,' said one participant suggesting that a closed list system for electoral candidates helped support better female participation.
Another participant, who's sister was a prominent female figure in the community, highlighted that they had seen sustained hate campaigns against her for a number of years. 'This behavior needs to criminalized. Women are subject to violence and it should be stopped,' she said.
The participants discussed the options put forward by the Advisory Committee and unanimously agreed that option 3 was the best way forward to overcome the political deadlock.
'The Libyan feeling is that UNSMIL and the political situation are going in circles,' said one woman, adding, 'to us it feels like the situation has been managed, not solved, and the same ideas are being recycled.'
They added that representation for women in institutional bodies and at decision-making level was crucial. 'Quotas are needed, because without them we would probably have only men elected,' said one participant, adding that 30 per cent was not enough, but would be acceptable for now to help build up to a point where 50 per cent of those elected were women, reflecting the demographics of the population.
The group discussed the importance of empowering women, and highlighted the Ra'idat programme [link] – with two of the participants having applied for this year's programme – as part of the work being done to support young women.
'Hopefully in the future we will not need a quota, but it is not a political tradition here to have women participate so we need it now,' said one woman. Others agreed saying that Libya was not experienced at democracy and they would like to empower more women to be able to engage.
'There needs to be more outreach and education to support women, fostering public awareness and cultural engagement' stressed another participant. 'We need to be educating them about their political rights.'
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Political inclusion, how to deal with spoilers—SRSG Tetteh answers Libyans' questions
Special Representative of the Secretary General Hanna Tetteh engaged with 239 Libyans Friday in an open Zoom call, discussing issues ranging from options to take the country to elections, to accountability measures for potential spoilers, to the inclusion of women, youth and persons with disabilities. The online meeting, the second the SRSG has hosted in the last month, was part of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya's ongoing efforts to increase two-way communication with the public about the political process. Since May, the Mission has engaged nearly 1,000 people across the country in person and another 1,250 online, including focused meetings with community leaders, women, youth, unionists, cultural components, and persons with disabilities. Until 9 August, the Mission is also running a public poll on the proposals put forth by the Advisory Committee, a body of Libyan legal, constitutional and political experts that UNSMIL assembled to advise on the best options to resolve the political impasse and unify state institutions. Everyone has a role to play in the success of any political process, SRSG Tetteh said, calling on Libyans to participate in the online poll and once the roadmap is announced, work with the Mission to hold their leaders accountable in its implementation. 'The situation has gone on for some time and it's going to take a collective effort to change it,' she said. 'Democracy, inclusiveness—they're not events. They are processes. They are built over time." During the Zoom meeting, some expressed concern that many roads to elections have already been tried and failed, saying the only way forward is establishing a constituent assembly through a national dialogue forum to appoint a new government to oversee elections. Others spoke out in support of simultaneous presidential and legislative elections and a constitution-first approach. 'We have no trust in the bodies in power now,' one woman said 'These need to be removed for any roadmap to be successful. They are prolonging the crisis and creating problems.' The 'actual power' is not with political bodies, but with armed groups, said another. 'How can we have democracy with these forces on the ground?' Others echoed her concern, pointing out that the security situation is not conducive to elections. Several participants asked the Mission, 'Are sanctions going to be a deterrent to obstructionists?' The Advisory Committee recommended, in its' report to UNSMIL, that a unified government be established prior to elections, the SRSG said, acknowledging that it has been a topic of discussion across UNSMIL's public consultations. 'We think it's important to have a unified government,' she said. 'How that unified government comes about is a matter that will be part of the negotiation of the roadmap. How we approach that will be informed by the public's feedback and other consultations.' The SRSG emphasized, however, that the way for institutions to be changed is through elections. The goal is to move away from transitions to elections, she said, to a leadership with a mandate, who takes responsibility for Libya and who Libyans hold accountable. 'In developing a roadmap, it's about how we get to elections and what needs to be done to make them happen safely,' she said. 'There are actors who believe that they will be harmed, that their interests will be so badly impacted that their incentive is to spoil. That may jeopardize the process, so in designing this, and in engaging, we have to make it clear that we have to think through these challenges and manage them.' The SRSG outlined some of the Advisory Committee's proposals to address issues that have prevented elections from taking place in the past, including putting in place a legal framework that clearly settles issues about the timing of the elections and candidacy requirements. 'The legal framework also provides for sanctions,' she said. 'It also addresses some of the security issues—not all of them, because some need to be dealt with operationally—but it deals with some of the security issues that need to be taken care of for successful elections to take place.' One man asked what UNSMIL is doing to advance disability rights. Another inquired, 'Are there guarantees to involve youth in the political process?' A woman expressed concern about the difficulties facing women who wish to participate in the political process, describing her experience as a candidate in municipal elections as 'terrifying.' 'I was subjected to indirect threats, defamation and the abusive use of my personal photos on social media platforms—and also direct, face-to-face threats' she said. 'Some personalities pressured me to withdraw mycandidacy.' 'I thank you for your bravery and your courage,' SRSG Tetteh responded. 'I would say that Libya needs not just you, but all Libyan women to be able participate in discussions on your country's future and in decision-making about how that future will come to pass. Sometimes there is a feeling that women's voices don't belong, but women wanting to participate is not about competing with men. Women's voices will contribute to make society better.' It is UNSMIL's goal, she said, not only to champion women's voices, but to represent all segments of the population's interests—including persons with disabilities, youth, and cultural components—in negotiations about the political roadmap. The Mission has withheld participants' names and affiliations to protect their privacy.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Furthering Implementation of the Peace Agreement Between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda
In support of implementation of the Peace Agreement Between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda (Rwanda) signed in Washington, D.C. on June 27, 2025, the United States hosted two sets of meetings on July 30 through August 1, 2025, focused on implementation of the security aspects of the agreement and building a framework for regional economic growth opportunities, which together are critical to achieving long-term stability and durable peace in the Great Lakes region. This bilateral initiative is designed to unlock the immense economic potential of the Great Lakes region made possible only through the implementation of the Peace Agreement. On August 1, representatives from the DRC and Rwanda, facilitated by the United States, initialed the text of the Regional Economic Integration Framework Tenets, a requirement outlined in the Peace Agreement. Through joint coordination in areas including energy, infrastructure, mining, national park management and tourism, and public health, the DRC and Rwanda will drive economic progress and improve the lives of people and the communities where they live across the Great Lakes region. Also on July 31, DRC and Rwandan delegations held the first meeting of the Joint Oversight Committee to support implementation of the Peace Agreement Between the DRC and Rwanda, observed by the United States, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Togo (as the African Union facilitator) and the African Union Commission. The Committee serves as a platform for implementing the Peace Agreement and resolving disputes. At its first meeting, participants appointed Chairpersons to the Commission, agreed to governing terms, and prepared for the launch of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism. This week's meetings represent a significant step forward in implementing the Peace Agreement, with the DRC and Rwanda taking meaningful actions to advance security and economic cooperation. The United States reaffirms its commitment to supporting these efforts and, as the parties make progress implementing the Peace Agreement, looks forward to hosting the Summit of the Heads of State in Washington, D.C., to drive peace, stability, and economic prosperity. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of State, United States of America.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Zawya
South Africa: Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Chairperson Concerned by Closure of Emfuleni Local Municipality Client Service Centre
The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Cooperative Governance and Public Administration (Traditional Affairs, Human Settlements and Water&Sanitation), Mr Mxolisi Kaunda, is concerned by reports of the closure of the Emfuleni Local Municipality client service centre due to unpaid rent. 'The closure of the client service centre negatively impacts the ability of the municipality to collect rates and taxes, a key driver of municipal revenue. The inability to collect revenue will have an unintended negative impact on the ability to deliver quality services to the people,' Mr Kaunda said. The 6th Parliament select committee visited the municipality and criticised the lack of progress in resolving material risks of governance and financial control within the municipality, which exacerbate the already dire state of poor service delivery. Furthermore, the continued attachment of the municipality's bank accounts by service providers, such as Eskom and Rand Water, due to non-payment for services requires a focused and deadline-driven approach. 'While it is not sustainable that the accounts of the municipality are attached, it is also unsustainable that the municipality does not pay for services. The residents of the municipality deserve better basic services in line with the objects of municipalities as envisioned in Section 152 of the Constitution,' Mr Kaunda suggested. The Chairperson also highlighted the importance of government departments paying the municipality for services to improve cash flow management and enable the municipality to provide services. The Chairperson called on the municipality and the provincial executive to find a workable solution to ensure that the client service centre is reopened and that service providers are paid on time. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
