UNSMIL works with the UN Country Team and international actors to provide advice and assistance to the Libyan Government on DDR programmes for revolutionary fighters. Two international coordination meetings to share information on programmes for revolutionary fighters have been facilitated by UNSMIL with attendance from the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Labour, and the Warriors Affairs Commission for Rehabilitation and Development (WACRD). The meetings discussed options for assistance projects by the international community that could target revolutionary fighters. From October, UNSMIL will convene monthly DDR meetings to strengthen coordination between international actors and to help strengthen alignment with host nation priorities.

From 26 June to 9 July, UNSMIL deployed two experts to the WACRD to train approximately 200 personnel in psychosocial counseling and to evaluate needs for future capacity building. Given the high demand for psychosocial services among revolutionary fighters, UNSMIL is working with the World Health Organization to identify a partner organization that will continue to offer training in this area.

The (re)integration of large numbers of revolutionary fighters remains one of the Government’s highest and most difficult issues. DDR programmes need to go beyond insertion of revolutionary fighters into the security forces and include broader socio-economic programmes. At the request of the Libyan Government, UNSMIL submitted for consideration in August a Draft Terms of Reference for the Establishment of a High Committee on Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration for Revolutionary Fighters. These draft terms of reference suggest a possible mandate and structure for such a Committee. Its main purpose would be to ensure the DDR process is planned in a coordinated manner by all ministries and agencies, ensures representation from civil society, is well managed, and clearly explained to the Libyan people. UNSMIL and the UN Country Team will continue to provide advice and assistance to the Libyan authorities in the critical area of DDR.