International Women's Day: Abdoulaye Bathily hails the achievements and aspirations of Libyan women
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - UN Secretary General Representative in Libya Abdoulaye Bathily said here Friday that the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the past achievements, ongoing efforts and future aspirations of Libyan women.
He was speaking on the occasion of International Women's Day, celebrated this year under the theme "Investing in women today is the engine of tomorrow's progress".
In a statement issued on Friday, Mr. Bathily stressed that "it is no exaggeration to say that there is an urgent need to work towards the empowerment and investment of women to move things forward in Libya".
He added that UNSMIL stands in solidarity with Libyan women in recognition of their determination and unwavering contribution to society, where Libyan women play a crucial role in shaping and developing Libya's political and economic landscape, and where their meaningful participation in political, economic and national reconciliation processes benefits society as a whole.
"The positive participation of women, their equal contribution to decision-making roles and their involvement in political and economic processes are essential to promote sustainable peace and development in Libya," the statement said.
However, Libyan women continue to face major challenges, the UN official acknowledged, pointing out that women are suffering severely from the current economic difficulties caused by the high inflation rate, the depreciation of the Libyan dinar, the persistent political stalemate and the poor management of public resources.
They are also in the frontline of victims of insecurity.
The press release pointed out that, unfortunately, the electoral laws adopted did not meet women's aspirations for sufficiently significant political participation, particularly in the Senate, where only six of the 90 seats were reserved for women.
In addition, according to World Bank estimates (2022), women's participation in the labour market remains limited to 37% compared to 64% for men, said the press release issued by UNSMIL.
It pointed out that the unemployment rate for women was 25.4%, exceeding the national average of 19.3%, while a UN Women study (2020) indicates that women, when they have a job, earn almost three times less than their male counterparts.
"Today, I call on all Libyan parties concerned to invest in women and accelerate progress," Bathily stressed, urging them to "support and empower women so that they can play their inherent role as drivers of comprehensive change in the situation in Libya".
The Mission urged the authorities to "allocate sufficient financial resources to meet the needs of women and girls".
Investing in women today is investing in Libya's future, prosperity and progress, the statement said, pointing out that "by offering equal opportunities to women, we unleash their hidden potential and help build a more inclusive and prosperous society for all".
All these challenges can best be met through unified and legitimate institutions that fully represent the will and aspirations of Libyan women and men, added the UN official, who justified his firm commitment to the elections.
"Today is another opportunity for all of us to renew our commitment to a safer, more stable and more prosperous Libya, capable of meeting the needs of all its sons and daughters," he stressed.
-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/RA 9March2024
