As part of activities to mark International Women’s Day, the UN in Libya conducted an online survey to understand how the UN could better support women’s voices in Libya’s political process.

A third of the 63 male and female respondents stated that as women were half of society ensuring their inclusion in decision-making would improve not only the political situation, but the economic situation which can often disproportionately impact women.

“The whole of society, not just half of it, should be entrusted with developing a way forward,” said one 45-year-old woman from Misrata.

Many respondents emphasized that women’s inclusion brings about diverse perspectives on key issues, leading to more inclusive decision-making and innovative policies. Many also highlighted the importance of presenting female role models to inspire future generations and to change negative views established by the society about the role of women.

“Women have a role in spreading peace and raising the standard of living, especially when they are in leadership positions,” said a 55-year-old woman from Tripoli.

Others added that participating in the political process through voting and standing for election, can contribute to enhancing women’s roles in political decision-making and enable them to have equal opportunities to shape government policies.

“As a 23-year-old woman from Zwara, I have benefited hugely from trainings offered by many organisations. Future trainings for women should be on political access, be practical like visiting ministries and parliament and include engagement with local leaders,” she added.

All participants in the survey wanted to see more support from the UN in Libya to women. Their recommendations included:

Ensuring an inclusive process where all women from different communities across Libya can participate, including advocating for quotas for women in state institutions;
Encouraging the adoption of laws and policies that protect women’s rights, promote equality and protect women and girls from violence, particularly on social media.
Enhancing the communication and advocacy skills of women, particularly young women, to increase their participation in the political process and their ability to communicate;
Designing and implementing projects and programmes aimed at protecting women’s rights and supporting their development including practical trainings with visits to parliament and councils, as well as engagement and dialogues with local leaders to help raise women’s voices;
Holding workshops at university, higher institutions and school level to raise awareness of women’s rights.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi spoke over the phone with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. President El-Sisi extended his greetings on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, expressing his sincere wishes for Algeria and its people for continued prosperity and development. The Algerian President appreciated the generous gesture, expressing his wishes for Egypt, its leadership, and people for goodness, stability, and progress.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, joined the solemn commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, during which a million people were deliberately and systematically killed in less than three months. “Our commitment to honour the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, in which Hutu and others who opposed it were killed, requires doing everything in our hands to prevent and to stop dynamics that can lead to the commission of genocide. When it comes to prevention, we must do more, and we must do better”, said the Special Adviser Nderitu in the capital, Kigali.

The Special Adviser paid respects to the victims and survivors of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, whose lives, dreams and aspirations were cut short or irrevocably altered by senseless violence that was fuelled by hate speech and built upon explicit calls to destroy an entire group, based on who they were. “Honouring also means accepting our responsibilities. The commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda will always remind us of our collective failure to prevent, in spite of clear signs of what was coming. We failed to protect those innocent civilians because we failed to recognize the warning signs of impending violence,” she emphasized, adding that the key lesson remains that “the first line of response needs to come way before violence is imminent. The adjective ‘early’ is often associated with the concept of warning, which is essential, but it does not sufficiently accompany the concept of response.

The cost of this gap, when the risk is too high, can be unbearable.”

In Rwanda and across the world, the KWIBUKA period – period of mourning and remembering the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, is observed from April to June. In Kigali, Special Adviser Wairimu Nderitu also joined other United Nations representatives and representatives of the diplomatic corps in delivering remarks during a commemoration for the ten Belgian Peacekeepers who lost their lives during the Genocide against the Tutsi. “As we reflect on the legacy of these fallen heroes, let us recommit ourselves to the principles of peace, tolerance, and understanding. Let us strive to build a world where conflicts are resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” stressed the Special Adviser. She also echoed the Secretary-General’s pledge to stand as one against all forms of hatred and discrimination, in a world where the darkest impulses of humanity are being awaken once again by the voices of extremism, division and hate.

During her visit, the Special Adviser also reflected upon Rwanda’s story of rebuilding and reconciliation in the past 30 years, while underlining the dangers in the rise of genocide denial. “Reconciliation means rejecting denial of genocide and war crimes and of any effort to glorify convicted war criminals. It also means recognizing the suffering of all victims and not attributing collective guilt. In Rwanda, this means accepting that the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) has determined conclusively that a genocide was committed against the Tutsi. This constitutes an important step towards accountability, fostering peace and stability and promoting reconciliation in Rwanda,” the Special Adviser stressed. She also noted that Rwanda’s majority young population was born just before or immediately after the Genocide, and its commitment to peace and prosperity carry the promise of the “never again”, not only in Rwanda, but across the world.

The Special Adviser’s participation in this 30th anniversary commemoration marks the second official visit by the Special Adviser to Rwanda, a country intricately linked to her mandate. The mandate of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, aimed to alert and mobilize for the prevention of genocide, was created because of the recognized failures of the United Nations and the international community to prevent and respond to the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda in 1994 and to the Srebrenica Genocide in 1995.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations (UN).

Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received a phone call from Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani. They exchanged greetings on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, praying to Allah the Almighty to bless the Egyptian and Iraqi peoples with renewed goodness and to grant the Arab and Islamic nations peace, security and prosperity.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.