Political Affairs Division

The Political Affairs Division (PAD) is at the forefront of UNSMIL’s work and mandate as an integrated special political mission.
Prioritizing the continuation of Libya’s political transition to democracy, PAD took the lead on UNSMIL efforts to support and convene a single, inclusive and transparent multi-track national political dialogue to reach a comprehensive political agreement aimed at ending the political and military conflict and ensuing institutional divisions that raged in Libya since 2014. UNSMIL efforts culminated in the signature of the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) in December 2015. PAD maintains contacts with all relevant stakeholders to ensure continuous engagement and to foster dialogue to restore Libya’s political transition.

PAD also supports the mediation and good offices functions of the SRSG to ensure a sustainable, peaceful and inclusive political settlement, and advises the SRSG and UNSMIL on all aspects related to supporting the LPA’s implementation.  
Within UNSMIL, PAD also has the lead on key mandate areas, including: support for the preparation, drafting and adoption of a new Libyan constitution; defining a national reconciliation process; and providing technical advice and support to key Libyan institutions. PAD also monitors, reports on and analyses political, economic and security developments in Libya and regional developments that impact the political process in Libya.

Electoral assistance

UNSMIL provides support and advice to Libyan authorities at their request on organizing elections, one of the cornerstones of Libya’s democratic transition as stipulated in the National Transitional Council’s Constitutional Declaration of 2011. Efforts have focused on technical and operational advice to key interlocutors, principally the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) during the General National Congress elections of 7 July 2012, those for the Constitution Drafting Assembly on 20 February 2014, and the elections for the House of Representatives (HoR) on 25 June 2014. In between, and following these elections, the UNSMIL electoral team focused on consolidating capacity and raising awareness of electoral stakeholders, and in particular of the HNEC on electoral matters and systems, women’s participation and voter registration systems among others.

United Nations electoral assistance is undertaken by an integrated team that brings UNSMIL together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). UNSMIL has the lead in coordinating electoral support provided by other international organizations and works closely with other UN entities in advising national electoral authorities on the inclusion of women in all aspects of the electoral process. 

Human Rights / Transitional Justice /Rule of Law Division

The Human Rights/Transitional Justice/Rule of Law Division works with Libyan stakeholders to promote human rights, transitional justice and the rule of law. The Division’s activities  include monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation, providing support to justice and corrections actors, developing civil society’s capacity to promote human rights standards, and supporting the transitional justice process. It also closely engages with the judiciary, the public prosecution, the prison administration, line ministries, parliamentarians, civil society and academia. The Division issues regular reports on various aspects on the human rights situation in Libya, including reports on civilian causalities. It also holds regular seminars and workshops to provide national counterparts with technical assistance and capacity-building.

Security Institutions Division

Prior to July 2014, UNSMIL’s Security Institutions Division (SID), formally the Security Sector Advisory and Coordinating Division (SSACD), worked extensively in Libya’s security sector supporting the development of national security architectures and capacity-building, particularly in the areas of police, defense, arms and ammunition management, and border management. These efforts resulted in high levels of trust with many Libyan security actors (including armed groups) and provided UNSMIL’s current endeavors with ongoing credibility, networks and entry points.

Following the events of 2014 and new United Nations Security Council Resolutions (most recently UNSCR 2323 of December 2016), SID now supports the Government of National Accord (GNA) in implementing the Libyan Political Agreement (LPA) and is particularly focused on assisting Libyan security arrangements through key security institutions. It mediates between both state and non-state actors, secures uncontrolled arms and related materiel, engages in counter-proliferation; and maximizes the coordination of international responses and support to the security sector. 

Despite political, security and logistical challenges, the Security Institutions Division has remained engaged since 2014 and progressively strengthened its efforts to assist Libya in ending the armed conflict. It has stabilized security; peacefully resolved differences between both state and non-state forces; encouraged armed groups to support the political process; mediated ceasefires and humanitarian safe corridors; and empowered and rebuilt capacity in the police, the army and other legitimate security forces. 

With the direct support of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), UNSMIL has continued to assist Libya in reducing the threat of improvised explosive devices and small-arms proliferation, light weapons and ammunition, through training and rallying international funding/assistance. With the help of a European Union planning cell, SID provides significant support to Libya’s security planning and decision-making (including the development of state forces) and efforts to navigate the UN arms embargo and associated exemptions processes. SID also provides substantial contributions to the UN and international community understanding of complex security dynamics. 

SID’s efforts have been underpinned by its ongoing credibility inside Libya and internationally, its broad range of security sector expertise, its long-standing networks and by the application of the fundamental principle of national ownership.

Women’s Empowerment Section

The Women’s Empowerment Section promotes women’s political participation guided by the Mission’s mandate and UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Through the Mission’s good offices and mediation efforts, the section continues to foster women’s participation in formal delegations participating in Libya’s peace dialogue, and provides safe spaces for Libyan women from Civil Society Organizations and activists to make their voice heard in peace processes and work towards specific gender provisions. Through its work with a broad array of Libyan women interlocutors, the section continues to empower Libyan women and enhance their participation in constitution-making processes and reconciliation efforts. Specifically, the UNSMIL Special Representative has continued to advocate for 30% representation of women in all governance structures. 

The section promotes the commitment of the United Nations to Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security through a two-year (2017-2018) strategy addressing strategic policy reforms to respond to women’s participation in the security sector, women’s protection and prevention from violence, and their participation in all reconciliation and mediation efforts.

Public Information Division

The Public Information Division (PID) uses traditional and social media to communicate to the public the UN's position and actions in and with regard to Libya as mandated by the Security Council.

PID, headed by the Spokesperson to the SRSG, organizes media encounters with top mission officials such as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and other UNSMIL officials, UN Organizations, Agencies, Funds and Programmes operating in Libya under the overall umbrella of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), securing interviews and hosting press conferences that provide up-to-date information on latest developments.

In addition, PID organizes trainings for media; commissions and oversees public surveys to obtain unfiltered, first-hand reflections of the true opinions and needs of the Libyan people; and carries out mapping of Libya’s always-developing media field.
PID is overseeing a new outreach campaign with Libyan youth, and is active in promoting national reconciliation campaigns and women’s empowerment.

PID’s multimedia division utilizes cutting-edge broadcast technologies to provide Libyans, stakeholders and humanity at large with immersive experiences featuring UN programmes in Libya.