Outcome LBY_D_1.1

By 2025, Libyan citizens, particularly youth and women, are better able to exercise their rights and obligations in an inclusive, stable, democratic, and reconciled society, underpinned by responsive, transparent, accountable, and unified public institutions. (UNDSCF Outcome 1.1 (taken verbatim))

During the reporting period, governance and political processes in Libya operated in a more inclusive and gender-responsive manner, reflected in strengthened institutional integration of gender equality principles and expanded, more representative participation of women and youth in decision-making spaces at national and local levels. Key national institutions—including the Ministry of State for Women’s Affairs , the Ministry of Planning , and the High National Elections Commission —increasingly applied gender equality and non-discrimination principles within national policies, strategies, and institutional frameworks. This was evidenced by the finalization of the National Strategy for the Economic and Social Empowerment of Women 2030 and its results framework, strengthening the institutionalization of gender-responsive planning and reinforcing women’s rights and participation within Libya’s democratic transition processes. Women leaders, youth activists, civil society actors, and marginalized groups exercised greater agency and collective influence in political dialogue and public decision-making. Through coordinated platforms and national dialogue mechanisms, including the Libyan Women’s Caucus and the Structured Dialogue, women—including young women and women with disabilities—more effectively articulated shared priorities and engaged with national and international decision-makers. Women’s representation reached 35 per cent of Structured Dialogue members, indicating progress toward more representative and inclusive political processes. Overall, these shifts reflect strengthened accountability and inclusiveness within governance and reconciliation processes, contributing to the advancement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 5 and 16 in the Libyan context.

By 2025, Libyan citizens, particularly youth and women, are better able to exercise their rights and obligations in an inclusive, stable, democratic, and reconciled society, underpinned by responsive, transparent, accountable, and unified public institutions. (UNDSCF Outcome 1.1 (taken verbatim))

The outcome was partly achieved as planned. Libyan female citizens are better able to exercise their rights and obligations through public institutions. Female representatives of CSOs and aspiring candidates promoted women's rights and empowerment in electoral processes. Sixty-four ( 64) women members of the 760 Network for Women Candidates enhanced their knowledge of municipal election processes, including seat distribution, legal frameworks, and procedural steps. They learned about the distinctions between municipal and parliamentary elections and how to navigate these differing systems effectively. Additionally, participants engaged in discussions on sustaining awareness-raising efforts and fostering peer support to strengthen women’s political participation. This learning occurred during capacity-building sessions provided by UN Women, in collaboration with the High National Election Commission (HNEC), the United Nations Special Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Moreover, 19 training participants, including women municipal councillors, civil society representatives, academic practitioners, and IDPs, increased their capacities for inclusive data collection and needs assessments for women and girls IDPs. Participants accessed practical tools and learned techniques for conducting inclusive assessments and translating data into actionable advocacy strategies. Before the training, only 6% of participants felt confident in the subject, compared to 93% afterwards. Feedback highlighted the training’s relevance, with participants rating the overall content 4.7/5. UN Women Libya organized and conducted the capacity-building, with the Ministry of Local Governance (MoLG), at the MoLG office in Tripoli. Civil society also increased its level of influence. CSOs advocated for policy adjustments during a capacity-building meeting with HNEC, leading HNEC to implement a pivotal change the following day. This policy adjustment, which allowed family members to register other family members at registration stations with the required documents, directly addressed a key voter registration barrier identified by the participants. Also during this meeting, women-led and women-focused civil society organizations increased their capacities to support normative and political processes on women's empowerment for peace and security processes. Specifically, 23 women from Women CSOs and networks increased their capacities to advocate for and support inclusive political and electoral processes. This will help address the low turnout of women voters in the local elections. UN Women, in partnership with HNEC, UNDP, and UNSMIL, organized the awareness-raising session targeting CSOs active in the municipalities going through municipal elections. In addition, 20 humanitarian first responders increased their capacities on women-inclusive mainstreaming in needs assessment and humanitarian response respectively. Participants enhanced their capacity to address women-specific needs during humanitarian crises, gaining knowledge and tools to implement gender-sensitive practices, conducting inclusive analysis using sex-age-disability disaggregated data (SADDD), and facilitating inclusive humanitarian responses in their communities. This occurred during a training session provided by UN Women. Based on the progress made, the strategy and theory of change are largely still applicable. UN Women will continue to diversify its engagement with civil society by focusing on youth and persons with disabilities as well as leveraging its coordination function to link civil society initiatives with decision-makers. If this strategy is successful, impact-level changes in the lives of women and girls in the areas of inclusive reconciliation and participation of women are expected within five (5) years.

By 2025, Libyan citizens, particularly youth and women, are better able to exercise their rights and obligations in an inclusive, stable, democratic, and reconciled society, underpinned by responsive, transparent, accountable, and unified public institutions. (UNDSCF Outcome 1.1 (taken verbatim))

The outcome was partly achieved as planned. First, progress was made towards the outcome as Libyan female citizens are better able to exercise their rights and obligations through public institutions. Female representative of CSOs and aspiring candidates promote women's rights and empowerment in electoral processes. 82 Libyan women (from 37 regions including young women, women with disabilities, women belonging to different ethnic groups, women living in rural areas, Women IDPs, and women providing care and support) have knowledge on the principles and processes of democracy in relation to the political empowerment of women, understanding of women's political rights and of issues of political violence against women including online violence against women candidates and a familiarity with sovereign institutions, their modus operandi, mandates and legal framework, and electoral principles and processes. A network to support each other as they face challenges with political violence, amongst other issues, has been created and a voluntary pledge “Women for Women” to support women’s rights and political participation has been signed. According to pre/post evaluation tests, knowledge on the principles and processes of democracy in relation to the political empowerment of women, on women's political rights, on issues of political violence against women including online violence against women candidates, sovereign institutions, their modus operandi, mandates and legal framework, and electoral principles and processes - increased from 28% to 63%, and the percentage of women reporting to have excellent and good knowledge of the topics increased from 65% to 89% after the intervention. UN Women Libya contributed to this by organizing 4 four-day in-person training on women political participation, coordinating with the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) to provide training sessions for women candidates on the electoral process, and facilitating a dialogue between the trainings. Second, civil society increased its level of influence. Women-led and women-focused civil society organizations have strengthened capacities to support normative and political processes on women's empowerment for peace and security processes: 20 women representatives of civil society organizations, aspiring candidates, politicians, and heads of women networks, including women IDPs, youth, and women with disabilities, have knowledge and capacities on electoral laws in Libya. They also have knowledge on Libya’s proposed electoral process for National Assembly’s chamber, the Senate and the House of Representatives (HoR), in light of the electoral law presented by 6+6 in October 2023 and concrete recommendations to address their challenges were formulated. This has been achieved through the workshop organized by UN Women Libya in collaboration with UNSMIL on women’s safe and meaningful participation in Libya’s electoral process. The workshop was further enriched with the participation of a member of the 6+6 committee and representatives from HNEC. Based on the progress made, the strategy and theory of change are largely still applicable. UN Women will continue to diversify its engagement with civil society by focusing on youth and persons with disabilities as well as leveraging its coordination function to link civil society initiatives with decision-makers. If this strategy is successful, impact-level changes in the lives of women and girls in the areas of inclusive reconciliation and participation of women are expected within five (5) years.