UNSMIL reported today that on 18 November, in a working group meeting, it brought together Libyan institutions, civil society organizations from across the country, and international counterparts to discuss the challenges and opportunities in supporting disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) efforts (of militias) in Libya.
UNSMIL said the session reaffirmed it and that the international community’s role and commitment in supporting Libya’s peace process. It said it currently focuses on fostering unity, facilitating dialogue, and bolstering collaboration among all Libyan stakeholders, with the objective of building trust, preventing conflict, and laying the groundwork for enduring peace.
UNSMIL reported that civil rights activists at the meeting from the south and the east, said civil society representatives from across the country were working to urge authorities to monitor violations and respect the human rights and needs of different local communities to reduce tensions. This, UNSMIL said, underscores the role of civil society in supporting institutions to advocate for and uphold human rights.
At the meeting, representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Defence highlighted the government’s efforts to support the socioeconomic reintegration of former combatants (militias) into society and emphasized the importance of supporting young people and women with employment opportunities through skills training, job creation, and rehabilitation services that support a return to civilian life.
This was supported by UN Women’s representatives who highlighted leadership initiatives for women and stressed the importance of considering the needs of women when designing community strategies.
Participants also discussed the need to protect children in armed conflict, following a recent UNICEF-led workshop on the topic. UNICEF representatives emphasized the need to prioritize children in conflict resolution and reintegration efforts and called for further measures to prevent the recruitment of children into armed formations.
