Martin Kobler Stresses the Importance of Sports for Peace and Reconciliation

Sports is a powerful tool to promote peace and development, and can contribute to empowerment of youth, women and person with disabilities and provide and environment of equality and respect for human rights. In Libya, football has a strong following, and it has proven to be a uniting factor for Libyans from diverse backgrounds and affiliations in the country and abroad.

On the occasion of the third anniversary of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), Martin Kobler, calls on the young men and women of Libya to play a bigger role in promoting the values of Sports in their communities.

“Sports can bring people from all backgrounds and political spectra together. I call on all parties in Libya, especially the Civil Society and Municipalities, the closest to the people’s aspirations, to promote the values of Sports as a powerful tool in the process of bottom-up approach to national reconciliation among the communities,” Martin Kobler said.