TRIPOLI - The United Nations Support Mission in Libya this week began soliciting membership nominations for the Structured Dialogue.   

The Structured Dialogue is one of three core components of the UNSMIL-facilitated political roadmap that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh, announced to the Security Council in August, together with (i) the adoption of a technically sound and politically viable electoral framework aimed at holding Presidential and Legislative elections; and (ii) unifying institutions through a new unified government.  

The Structured Dialogue is tasked with proposing concrete policy recommendations to create a conducive environment for elections, shaping a shared vision and addressing long term drivers of conflict while underpinning short term efforts to unify institutions and enhance governance in key sectors. 

The Structured Dialogue is not a decision-making body but rather a platform to provide broader segments of Libyan society the opportunity to shape the political process and build consensus in forming a shared vision for the country’s future. It is expected that it will also address the outstanding matters from previous political processes that have not been implemented but are still contested issues that need to be addressed in order to facilitate a peaceful political transition after the conduct of elections. A mechanism to promote implementation of the outcomes of the Structured Dialogue will also be discussed and policy recommendations will be shared with relevant state institutions. 

Approximately one-hundred-and-twenty Libyans will be invited to join the dialogue. UNSMIL will also provide the broader Libyan public with opportunities to submit inputs and engage on the same issues being discussed by the Structured Dialogue, including through online surveys, and in-person and virtual meetings.  A caucus will also be established to engage women and amplify their voices, and a digital platform will be set up to promote youth participation and engagement. 

The entities that UNSMIL has begun soliciting nominations from include municipalities, political parties, universities, national technical and security institutions, and other specialized entities and societal groups. The Mission may identify additional members to ensure inclusion of all cultural components, geographic areas and the representation of women.  Thirty-five percent of the dialogue members will be women.  

Nomination criteria includes, amongst others, expertise or experience in at least one of four thematic areas: governance, economy, security, and national reconciliation and human rights. 

A nomination does not guarantee automatic membership in the Structured Dialogue, UNSMIL will make the final selection to ensure that the final composition of the group reflects the rich diversity of Libyan society within the 120 members.   

Members will be required to act with the highest standard of integrity, build consensus, and put national interests above their own. 

As a critical part of the roadmap, the Structured Dialogue builds on lessons learned and responds to the countless calls to broaden inclusivity of the political process and address root causes to end the cycles of transitions and build a stable and prosperous Libya. 

For further information, please consult the UNSMIL website.