EU urges Libyan women to be involved in country's political process

Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The European Union Mission in Libya and the Ambassadors of its Member States accredited in the country have stressed the need to give women the opportunity to occupy an optimal position as peacemakers.

They have called for the participation of women as actors in the political process and not by considering them as victims.

This was contained in a statement issued on Friday evening on the 20th anniversary of the adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 1325 on "Women, Peace and Security" on 31 October 2000.

The European Union Mission expressed the EU's support for the efforts of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) to include women in the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum.

It deplored the fact that women remain largely excluded from the political scene and from active participation in peace negotiations, and are still victims of gender-based violence which prevents them from fully exercising their rights.

"Women in Libya are disproportionately affected by the conflict, as they are vulnerable to targeting, threats, abduction, sexual abuse and murder," the statement said.

It added that about 200,000 girls and women have been displaced, and nearly 18,000 women and girls are registered as refugees and asylum seekers, while thousands of migrant women are still under threat of attack.

UNSMIL has announced the launch of an interactive Libyan dialogue platform, aimed at communicating and interacting directly with as many Libyan men and women as possible from various regions and abroad throughout the period of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum.

Last Monday, dozens of Libyan personalities began a political dialogue by videoconference, under the supervision of the United Nations, a few days after the signing of a permanent ceasefire and before the Political Dialogue Forum scheduled for 9 November in Tunisia.

-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/MA 31Oct2020