ZAWIYA – To mark International Day of Peace on 21 September, Special Representative of the Secretary General in Libya, Hanna Tetteh, visited Zawiya and met with municipal mayors and representatives of youth councils in the region to discuss the next steps of the political process aimed at bringing stability to Libya.
The discussions focused on the security and economic challenges in the area, with youth highlighting the issues of weapons proliferation and drugs. They also advocated for increased representation of youth and municipalities in the next phase of the political process, emphasizing that they wished to be ambassadors of peace.
“We commend the efforts of the 4+4 agreement,” said one of the eight youth council representatives, adding: “We want to represent our cities in the process and strive to end the conflicts.”
Emphasizing UNSMIL commitment to an inclusive process, but also noting that not every individual could be represented, the SRSG highlighted that UNSMIL was conducting outreach and listening to the voices of municipal leaders, youth, women and others to ensure that wide range of views are considered when designing the next phase of the political process.
“A successful political process is an important part of peace and stability in Libya,” said SRSG Tetteh. “Local elected leaders play an important role in engaging their communities and promoting good governance. The future of this country depends on the effort that leaders, national and local, put into helping the country succeed,” she added.
Municipal mayors stressed the importance of municipalities, as elected officials, in reflecting views of the community in the political process.
“Local leaders can act as partners in the political process, hold national leaders and institutions to account, hold discussions on the Structured Dialgoue recommendations, and consider how they can be implemented in their communities,” said SRSG Tetteh.
Under this year’s theme of: ‘Invest in peace: for everyone, everywhere, every day,’ the UN focused on the everyday architects of peace – the people driving local action, laying the groundwork for stability and working to build a lasting peace.
As part of its continuing work on the political roadmap, UNSMIL is undertaking a series of discussions – online and in person – with local leaders and civil society around the country to build their awareness of the Structured Dialogue outcomes and hear their views on how these recommendations can be implemented.
