20 January 2015 -

A group of 35 Libyan women from diverse backgrounds representing all areas of Libya discussed during a 19-20 January 2015, meeting in Tunis, Tunisia, issues related to Libya’s security and peace in support of the Libyan Political Dialogue in Geneva.

For the first time in the Libyan context, the women agreed on a joint statement, affirming their demands for a peaceful, democratic and unified Libya, which aligned their diverse perspectives in an effort to ensure that their collective voices for peace are well heard at the national, regional and international levels.

The women acknowledged that the dialogue is the only way to resolve many of the problems that Libya faces today and to bring peace to the country.

UNSMIL in collaboration with UNDP, UN Women and IFES facilitated this meeting for Libyan women.

The Libyan women issued the following statement:

We, Libyan women who support peace, dialogue and social peace for the sake of building the democratic State of Libya, avail ourselves of this historic opportunity, namely the National Libyan dialogue, to attract the attention of Libyan men, women and the whole world towards the dialogue, since it is considered the last resort to bring the homeland out of the crisis and bring peace to Libya,

Sensing the threat to the unity of the country and security of its citizens as well as the wasting of its wealth,
Believing in the role which Libyan women played during the 17 February Revolution and in the establishment of its principles.

Affirming that armed conflict had the biggest impact on women through displacement and violence; and
Based on the principle of citizenship and women’s partnership in the formulation of the peace path and the building of the democratic State of Libya, the State of institutions, law and respect of human rights,

We demand the following:

First: Ceasefire and work towards peaceful dialogue, peace process and improvement of the humanitarian situation.

Second: Call upon the different parties to respect the rules of Humanitarian International Law to alleviate suffering and protect victims of armed conflicts, especially women and children.

Third: Contribute to the development of a strategy to activate confidence measures that were reached by the first round of dialogue, as well as develop the necessary mechanisms and executive programmes at all levels.

Fourth: Commitment by all participating parties to engage women in the dialogue to settle the conflict and to rebuild, during and after the transitional period. Also, activate SCR 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889, 1960, 1206 and 2122, which stipulate the representation of women at all decision making levels, management and resolution of conflicts and protection of women, as well as empowerment and training of civil society female activists in the areas of negotiations and peace building, also implementation of all agreed confidence building measures.

Fifth: Expedite the return of all internally and externally displaced females and males, release those detained in an illegal manner, whether females or males, as well as adopt necessary measures to ensure that.

Sixth : Issue laws and take necessary measures to start transitional justice processes in order to promote reconciliation, establishment and maintenance of social peace while ensuring full participation by women.

Seventh : Utilize moderate media and religious rhetoric to ensure the participation of women, the non-undermining of reconciliation efforts, consolidation of the values of tolerance, national unity, and rejection of division, as well as the promotion of elimination of violence against women, and promotion of the role of women in peace making, and engaging women in the dialogue.

Eighth : The League of Arab States shall mobilize the necessary and effective efforts of all its members to support the Libyan national dialogue, and to ensure the participation of Libyan women in all stages of the dialogue, as well as in state building and peace making. Also, promote their capacities and efforts in supporting and spreading the culture of dialogue, transitional justice and reconciliation.

Ninth : Demand that the Peace and Security Council of the African Union supports the rebuilding and establishment of peace in Libya as well as the dialogue.

Tenth : Demand the Arab Maghreb Union to support the dialogue and peace in Libya based on the most important of its principles, support of peace in the Arab Maghreb.