TRIPOLI – The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) publishes today its first report on youth voices from across the country and their recommendations for a better future in Libya. 

Over 1,200 young men and women engaged with UNSMIL through its YouEngage Programme, taking part in over 40 workshops and trainings between May 2024 and June 2025.  

“In 2025, the UN marks ten years since the adoption of the landmark UN Security Council Resolution 2250 on youth, peace, and security,” said Special Representative of the Secretary General, Hanna Tetteh. “The resolution acknowledges the crucial role that youth play in achieving sustainable peace and development all over the world.”  

The report, the first of its kind for the Mission, collates recommendations made during these engagements into nine sets for Libya’s leaders to consider as the country moves forward in the political process. 

“In almost all our engagements with youth, they told us they want unified institutions, better quality of education and healthcare, better employment opportunities, access to training and digital opportunities, and, consistently, they want fair and representative political inclusion,” SRSG Tetteh said. “Young women in particular want to be able to lead in their communities without fear of online or real-life violence. They are tired of a continuous cycle of violence, poor leadership, and dwindling economic opportunities.” 

The collected recommendations and asks by youth are grouped as follows:  

1. Unify security, economic and governance institutions for stability and national reconciliation;  
2. Ensure youth representation and build their skills to enable them to engage in the political dialogue;  
3. Work directly with community leaders to raise awareness on key issues and protect civic space; 
4. Libyan government institutions should work more closely with youth to improve social cohesion; 
5. Work with the private sector and CSOs to improve the environment and support youth; 
6. Provide better economic opportunities for youth and improve fiscal sustainability, ending corruption; 
7. Improve networking among youth and wider civil society to increase advocacy efforts; 
8. Improve online safety for youth and women; 
9. Work with the media to reduce misinformation and disinformation and establish a code of conduct. 

“Youth want their voices to be heard by the leaders of Libya,” SRSG Tetteh said. “Now is the time for Libya’s leaders to take young people’s ideas and recommendations into account, give them meaningful inclusion, and most importantly, show that they are leaders capable of building a sustainable peace for all.”