Libya chairs first UN debate on protection of women in wartime
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Libyan Minister of State for Women's Affairs in the Government of National Unity, Houria Khalifa al-Tarmal, chaired for the first time a dialogue session at the United Nations on "How to activate international and national legislation and legal mechanisms to protect women and girls in times of war".
Mrs al-Tarmal stressed the importance of the Palestinian issue, expressing the freedom and dignity of Palestinian women, who are still chained and the target of violations and continuous attacks by the brutal Israeli aggression.
She assured that women are one of the priorities of her government to achieve justice and peace in Libyan society, according to a statement issued by the ministry.
The dialogue, chaired by Libya in cooperation with the Arab Women's Organisation, was held on the sidelines of the 68th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
It addressed a number of topics examining the effectiveness of international, regional and national policies, legislation and legal frameworks related to combating violence against women, with the aim of assessing their effects and shedding light on the status of women in the field of state-building and peacekeeping in times of conflict and instability.
Ms al-Tarmal emphasised the importance of protecting women's rights during wars and conflicts, stressing the importance of this issue and of working together in pursuing efforts to ensure their protection and guarantee their rights.
A group of women ministers and representatives in Arab parliaments and women representing various Arab countries, including Palestine, Lebanon, Morocco, Algeria and Jordan, a representative of the League of Arab States and a number of foreign organisations and diplomats took part in the debate.
The Libyan minister welcomed the efforts of the Director of the Arab Women's Organisation to strengthen cooperation and work in a spirit of unity to achieve the common goals of Arab women in protecting women's rights and promoting justice and peace.
"Together we can achieve progress and build a better future for women in our Arab countries," she stressed.
The Libyan delegation to the session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women is led by Houria Tarmal. The session began on 11 March and continues until 22 March.
The 68th annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) is the UN's largest annual gathering devoted to gender equality and the empowerment of women. It is running under the priority theme 'Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing for gender equality'.
-0- PANA BY/JSG/BBA/AR 15Mar2024
