TRIPOLI - Gathered within the newly established Libyan Women Caucus, Libyan women are actively shaping national efforts to advance prosperity, peace and stability to shape a more inclusive future through the Structured Dialogue.
Since the Dialogue’s launch in December 2025, more than 40 women, representing about 35 per cent of the members, have worked together though the Libyan Women’s Caucus to ensure that women’s perspectives, priorities, and rights are meaningfully reflected across discussions on governance, economy, security, and national reconciliation and human rights.
The Caucus serves as a physical and virtual platform for collaboration among women members of the Dialogue. It supports the development of joint positions and strengthens sustained engagement with the broader constituency of Libyan women. Its work is anchored in the Libyan Women’s Charter, a framework that consolidates shared priorities and recommendations from women across diverse constituencies. The Charter draws on the experience and insights of women who participated in previous political processes, such as the Libyan Political Agreement and Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, and on extensive consultations with women’s groups across Libya and in the diaspora.
Through outreach and engagement, the Caucus has connected with technical experts, civil society leaders, activists, young women, women with disabilities, and women from historically marginalised regions and cultural components, thereby helping ensure that diverse perspectives and collective voices are reflective in the Dialogue.
On International Women’s Day, Haneen Boshosha, a member of the Structured Dialogue’s National Reconciliation and Human Rights Track, reflected on Libyan women’s decades-long struggle to contribute to the country’s future.
“I believe that any political process that does not place women at its core only reproduces the same exclusion that has contributed to the complexity of our crisis,” she said, adding that “true stability cannot be achieved without ensuring justice for the most marginalised groups.”
Jazia Issa, a member of the Security Track, said that reaching 35 per cent women’s participation in the Dialogue “means a great deal” to her.
“It reflects a significant shift in the trajectory of Libyan women's political participation after years of marginalization and underrepresentation and a growing recognition of women's role as essential partners in decision-making,” she said. “However, it also represents a significant responsibility, as our presence must not be merely symbolic, but active and influential, reflecting the aspirations of Libyan women and translating their needs into practical proposals and recommendations.”
Najwa Al-Qamudi, a member of the Economy Track, emphasised that “professional competence and sound leadership are not linked to one’s sex” but rather to their ability to “bear responsibility and make an impact.” Women bring a wealth of experience to the Structured Dialogue discussions, she said. For example, on the Economy Track, she and her female colleagues bring proven “strategic vision, meticulous risk management and a firm commitment to transparency and accountability.”
Women’s participation in the Structured Dialogue has not been without challenges. Like many Libyan women in public roles, members have faced risks of intimidation, harassment, and security threats, both online and offline. Many have also balanced their participation with significant personal and professional responsibilities, demonstrating their integrity, resilience and dedication.
Women’s empowerment must be a “genuine partnership between women and men in building a safe and stable nation,” Issa said. “Defending women's rights means restoring women’s historical role in contributing, participating, and bearing responsibility in society.”
The Structured Dialogue is a key component of the political roadmap announced in August by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Hanna Tetteh. It explores concrete recommendations to create conditions conducive to elections, while addressing urgent governance, economic, and security challenges to strengthen state institutions. By developing policy and legislative proposals that address longer-term drivers of conflict, the Structured Dialogue aims to build consensus around a shared national vision that help chart Libya’s path toward stability.
UNSMIL established the Women’s Caucus in partnership with UN Women and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Read more about the Structured Dialogue and the Libyan Women’s Caucus on the UNSMIL website.
