TRIPOLI – On International Women's Day, the United Nations in Libya underscored the importance of women's rights and leadership under the theme: "Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls” in a statement from Special Representative of the Secretary General, Hanna Tetteh.
The recent Municipal Council elections highlight that women are capable of leading at various levels of governance, and progress is achievable. The election of two women as mayors in Zultan and Suluq, along with the success of three women winning seats beyond the quota system, shows that communities are increasingly trusting women’s leadership in effective local governance. We believe that as more women have the chance to lead, confidence will grow in their leadership abilities, and the Libyan state should support women in leadership and highlight their achievements.
Despite this progress, the UN in Libya noted that women often face intimidation and harassment in public roles, which undermines their participation in governance. The UN called for legislative reforms to eliminate barriers to women's access to resources and decision-making.
