Special Envoy meets with representatives of Youth Dialogue Forum, stresses the importance of Youth and Women participation on 24 December’s elections

© UNSMIL/M. ALASAADI

© UNSMIL/M. ALASAADI

© UNSMIL/M. ALASAADI

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25 Nov 2021

Special Envoy meets with representatives of Youth Dialogue Forum, stresses the importance of Youth and Women participation on 24 December’s elections

TRIPOLI, 25 November 2021 - Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Libya, and Head of UNSMIL, Ján Kubiš, along with Assistant Secretary General-Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya, Georgette Gagnon, received today representative of the Youth Dialogue Forum at the Mission HQ in Tripoli. They handed over an invitation to the UN to attend the National Youth Conference, which will be held in Tripoli on 27 November, under the theme “It is Our Time”.

The Special Envoy and ASG-RC/HC were briefed by the youth representatives on their efforts to lead a bottom-up community-based national reconciliation, as well as their efforts to advance concrete participation of Youth in the political life of Libya, especially through the upcoming elections on 24 December.

The SE welcomed expressed his admiration for the Youth Forum’s consolidated efforts as well their determination to be real actors of change through the engagement in the political life for a better future for Libya and the Libyan people.

He reiterated the Security Council position, manifested in its Presidential statement on 24 November, which calls of the need to hold Parliamentary and Presidential elections on 24 December 2021 as set out in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) roadmap and resolution 2570 (2021).

The Special Envoy stressed that “Only free, fair and credible elections will allow the Libyan people, especially youth and women, to elect their true representatives and also be elected, and enter the political life as a critical catalyst and force of change that can transform the political environment and culture, and eventually, actively contributes to putting Libya on the path of democracy, stability, unity, and prosperity. It is the youth, including women, that need to shape the future of Libya for themselves, for the future generation. Notwithstanding all the controversies, risks, and unknowns about the elections, this political democratic process also creates a unique opportunity, that should not be missed.”

Mr. Kubiš added that, “The wave of registered voters and candidates is proof, that the people of the country in their majority understand this. Abstaining from the elections under any, even very valid reasons, would allow the others, notably the status quo parties and their supporters to determine the future of Libya, while they will continue to sideline and ignore the aspirations and needs of young generations, including women.”