26 August 2015 - Representatives of Libyan women groups and women activists, from diverse backgrounds representing all areas of Libya, concluded a three-day meeting in the framework of the political dialogue with the aim of ending the conflict in the country. The meeting, which convened in Tunis, Tunisia, on 24-26 August 2015, was supported by the United Nations (UN Support Mission in Libya in partnership with the UN Women).

Participants discussed ways to strengthen women’s role and representation in the political process. They affirmed their support for the dialogue process as the only way to bring peace and stability to Libya. At the conclusion of the meeting, participants issued the following statement:

Voice of Libyan Women in the Libyan Political Dialogue

We, Libyan women activists in the political and human rights fields as well as in civil society organizations, met in Tunis on 24-26 August 2015, to promote the participation of Libyan women in the upcoming political phase, based on the Libyan – Libyan political dialogue of Skheirat, which resulted in the initialization of the Political Agreement on 12 July 2015.

We value the Agreement for the opportunities that it provides to support the participation of Libyan women in the peace-making and peace-building processes. The Political Agreement has reinforced our right to participate in political and public life as guaranteed to us in the Constitutional Declaration.

However, our aspirations for fair representation and full participation are not fulfilled. Accordingly, we demand the following:

1. The Constitutional Declaration and Political Agreement asserted the right of women in political participation and promotion, and since women’s rights are an integral part of human rights, consequently, women enjoy all rights that national and international legislations have guaranteed based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination. We, therefore, underscore that it is important for the Government of National Accord to commit, upon its establishment, to taking the necessary measures, including positive discrimination, in order for women to acquire civil, political, economic and social rights. During this meeting, the group emphasized that it is important for women’s representation to be no less than 30 per cent in the Government of National Accord, the High State Council and other proposed structures.

2. Women have been greatly affected by conflict, as well as by destruction of the infrastructure and social fabric, and as a result they are prevented from enjoying their rights. We underscore the important role of the GNA in the promotion of women’s rights and taking into account their need for protection based on the requirements of human rights and the international humanitarian law as well as Security Council Resolutions - SCR 1325 and the subsequent six resolutions (based on the preamble and governing principles in the initialed Political Agreement).

3. We emphasize that it is important for the annex on the Constitutional Declaration Amendment, as included in the draft political agreement, to have clearer language so it includes men and women in all rights.

4. We contributed during this meeting with an initial draft to most of the Political Agreement annexes, and we call upon all concerned parties to consider our recommendations.