Women in Libya are making measurable progress in political participation and community leadership despite persistent social and institutional challenges, according to a new article published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Libya on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8.
The article, written by UNDP Resident Representative Sophie Kemkhadze and women’s empowerment specialist Khadija Al-Buaishi, examines the evolving role of women in Libyan society. It highlights recent gains in representation and civic engagement while stressing that broader support and stronger partnerships remain essential to sustain this progress.
Empowering Women as a Pillar of Stability
The authors argue that protecting and advancing the rights of women and girls has become increasingly urgent amid rising tensions and conflicts in various parts of the world.
According to the article, societies that empower women are more resilient, more peaceful, and better prepared to face social and economic challenges. When women participate fully in public life—whether in local governance, business, civil society, or public service—the benefits extend far beyond individual opportunities.
Greater female participation strengthens families, institutions, and communities, contributing to long-term stability and development.
Growing Female Presence in Libya’s Public Life
Despite years of political and economic uncertainty, Libyan women continue to play a vital role in shaping their communities and contributing to the country’s future.
Recent municipal council elections across 119 municipalities illustrate this growing engagement. A total of 1,766 women ran as candidates, representing 26 percent of all candidates. Of those, 207 women won seats, accounting for 23.8 percent of elected council members.
The article also highlights a historic milestone: two women were elected as municipal mayors for the first time in Libya’s history. This development is seen as an important step toward stronger female leadership at the local level and reflects growing public confidence in women’s ability to contribute to inclusive governance.
UN Support for Political and Development Participation
The article explains that the United Nations Development Programme works closely with national institutions, civil society organizations, and local communities to create conditions that enable women to participate fully in public life and decision-making.
As part of these efforts, UNDP has collaborated with the High National Elections Commission to promote more inclusive electoral processes. One initiative involved training 137 “electoral ambassadors,” women who help encourage civic participation and raise awareness within their communities.
These initiatives also include mechanisms designed to strengthen women’s representation in candidate lists and increase their involvement in local development programs.
For example, development initiatives in municipalities in the Nafusa Mountains have supported the participation of women in local planning processes and decision-making related to sustainable water management.
Online Harassment as a Major Barrier
Despite these achievements, the article warns that women engaged in public life increasingly face online harassment and digital violence, which can discourage political participation.
To address this challenge, UNDP supported the use of digital monitoring tools to track harassment and hate speech targeting female candidates and political activists during the election process.
This initiative resulted in Libya’s first official report on digital violence during electoral processes, which aims to support awareness campaigns and strengthen dialogue with relevant institutions on prevention and accountability.
Justice, Accountability, and Women’s Rights
The article also highlights the importance of justice and accountability in advancing women’s rights.
Through initiatives such as the Missing Persons Project, UNDP has helped amplify the voices of women from families of the missing in Tarhuna, illustrating the profound human impact of enforced disappearances.
Women have played a crucial role in demanding truth, justice, and accountability for these cases, demonstrating their influence in broader human rights advocacy efforts.
Civil society organizations have also been supported in contributing to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process through parallel reports focusing on women’s rights. These reports include recommendations aimed at strengthening protections, expanding equality, and improving access to justice.
Fighting Corruption to Strengthen Women’s Empowerment
The article notes that promoting women’s rights is closely linked to combating corruption and strengthening public integrity.
Corruption tends to affect women disproportionately, particularly those who rely heavily on public services such as healthcare, education, and social protection.
Improving transparency, accountability, and institutional integrity is therefore essential not only for good governance but also for ensuring that women and girls can access services, opportunities, and justice on equal terms.
Building on Recent Achievements
The article concludes that the progress made by women in Libya in recent years demonstrates that meaningful change is possible.
From participating in elections to leading municipalities, advocating for rights, and strengthening local communities, Libyan women continue to expand their role in public life.
However, the authors stress that these achievements should not remain isolated successes. Instead, they should form part of a broader and more sustainable process that includes supporting female municipal council members, strengthening networks among women leaders, and fostering cooperation with judicial institutions, civil society organizations, and public authorities.
The availability of reliable data will also be crucial for shaping inclusive policies. In this context, UNDP is working with Libya’s Bureau of Statistics and Census on the upcoming National Human Development Report, which is expected to help guide future policy discussions and development strategies in the country.
