Attributed to Samir Anouti, UNFPA Representative a.i., Libya Country Office
Tripoli (March 08, 2022): This year United Nations International Women’s Day is celebrated under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” that is recognizing the efforts of women and girls for building a sustainable future for all. Libya’s gender equality is enshrined in its Constitutional Declaration of August 2011 and through its ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women in 1989. These provide the basis for the rights of the Libyan women towards living a life with equality and dignity. In this connection, UNFPA along with its partners have been particularly providing technical support for policies, programs, and services to improve the health and well-being of women and girls through integrated reproductive health (RH), Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response and youth interventions in the country.
During the times of natural or man-made disasters, those who are amongst the most marginalized and vulnerable experience the deepest impacts. Similarly, in Libya, socio-economic challenges caused by decade long conflict have disproportionately impacted the lives of women and girls. On this day we stand with women and girls in Libya, who despite adversities, have been a source of strength and inspiration for their families and communities. The women, especially young girls, have a phenomenal role to play for Libya’s transition from conflict and insecurity to peace and stability. In the last few years, with the gracious support of our donors and partners, we were able to lay solid foundations for much needed reproductive health, GBV and youth programming in Libya. However, with increased demands in an indeed challenging context, and for long term sustainability of interventions, we are gearing up our efforts while mobilizing all possible much needed support.
UNFPA along with its partners attained various achievements in different areas of Libya. As such, and in the last one year, RH and GBV services were provided to over 62,000 women and girls in the country; and four Women and Girls Safe Spaces have provided much needed psychosocial support, GBV case management, legal consultations, and imparted life skills and livelihood training to over 14,000 women and girls. The psychosocial support hotline “1417” assisted over 10,000 women while GBV awareness interventions were conducted in 20 municipalities in Libya. Furthermore, 3,679 young Libyan including 2,449 females have received life skills and vocational training. UNFPA has also supported the improvement of the service delivery and resilience of the health systems by building the capacities of over 860 frontline health care workers. Moreover, and in partnership with the Ministry of Health, UNFPA supported the formulation of Libya’s first ever Midwifery and Nursing Policy along with a National Policy and Strategic Action Plan 2022-2032 for standardizing Nursing and Midwifery Education in Libya. These interventions were possible thanks to ongoing partnerships with national stakeholders as well as the generous support by the EU's Africa Trust fund, Japan, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Barcelona and Catalonia and UN’s Peacebuilding Fund.
Happy International Women’s Day for all women and girls in Libya!
For more information:
Contact: Salman Khalid, Communications Analyst, UNFPA Libya Email: ksalman@unfpa.org
