Latest news with #Zintan

Zawya
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) launches country-wide youth consultations on the political process and starts by meeting youth in four cities
Youth represent 38 per cent of the population (NESDB statistics) in Libya and their voices must be included in the political process. To support this, in addition to its regular meetings with youth (aged 18-35), the United Nations Support Mission in Libya is launching a wider programme with the aim to engage 500 young men and women across Libya in the coming months. As part of its broader efforts to engage the community on the Advisory Committee's recommendations on how to take Libya to elections and unify institutions, UNSMIL is conducting dedicated meetings with youth representatives, both online and in-person. More information about how young men and women can get involved can be found here. In addition, UNSMIL has also launched an online poll to ensure that a wider audience can be reached. 'As we develop the next steps of the political process, we want to hear everyone's views,' said Special Representative of the Secretary General for Libya, Hanna Tetteh. 'Youth are a driving force that can help shape the future of this country. They have specific needs and concerns, and they bring different perspectives that can inform decision-making. We want to hear directly from them because a process that is meant for the Libyan people needs the meaningful participation of all Libyan people.' UNSMIL has already met with youth in Zintan, Misrata, Benghazi and Nalut to discuss the Advisory Committee recommendations. Participants called for better access to economic and employment opportunities, unified government institutions, more representation and inclusion in decision-making processes, access to services, fair and equitable resource distribution. They also shared their ideas around decentralisation and political inclusion. Through these consultations and online polling, the Mission will capture youth recommendations and ideas and ensure they are fed into the decision-making process on next steps. UNSMIL published the Executive Summary of the Advisory Committee's Report in May, including its four proposed options to move the political process forward. The public consultation and survey ask people to put forward their recommendations and ideas and decided which of these options they would prefer: Conducting presidential and legislative elections simultaneously; Conducting parliamentary elections first, followed by the adoption of a permanent constitution; Adopting a permanent constitution before elections; or Establishing a political dialogue committee, based on the Libyan Political Agreement to finalize electoral laws, executive authority and permanent constitution. More information on the youth consultations and how to get involved can be found here. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).


Asharq Al-Awsat
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
UN Mission Holds Consultations to Solve Issues Blocking Progress Toward Elections in Libya
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Saturday held consultations with key officials in Libya's Zintan and Misrata to discuss the recommendations of the Advisory Committee to resolve key contentious issues that are blocking progress toward elections. In Misrata, head of UNSMIL, Hanna Tetteh, and her deputy, Stephanie Koury, met with mayor Mahmoud Al Soqatri, municipal council officials, House of Representative and High Council of State members, in addition to civil society representatives, youth and the Military Zone Commander of the Central Zone and member of the Truce Committee, Lieutenant General Mohamed Musa. 'The price paid by Libyans across the country from continued political deadlock has been too high,' Tetteh said. 'The Advisory Committee has now finished, and their recommendations are public. It is now that the real work begins to find a way forward for an inclusive political process,' she added. The meetings in both cities are part of a series of community consultations which will take place across the country as the Mission starts a public consultation process on the Advisory Committee recommendations in Libya. The community engagements will be held online and in towns and cities across the country by the Mission to gather the views of a wide range of people, including community leaders, notables, youth, women, cultural components those with disabilities, military leaders and elected officials, UNSMIL said in a statement. 'Discussions across all meetings focused extensively on the recent clashes in Tripoli and their potential implication for stability in the western region,' Tetteh said during her visits in Misrata and Zintan. She added that participants emphasized the urgent need for political, social and economic inclusivity, and the need to implement robust ceasefire and security arrangements.