No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ) convened a colloquium on women’s participation in democratic processes in Libya, within its broader program on Transitional Justice (TJ) in Libya. The meeting, held on 23 March 2014 in Tripoli, formed part of the series of colloquiums that NPWJ has organised regularly since the launch of the Libya program, providing an occasion to generate constructive discussion within civil society and the legal community.

The colloquium, which was led by Ms Maia Marie-Cecile Darme from Gender Concerns International, provided an occasion to generate constructive dialogue among representatives from a number of Libyan civil society organisations. The 20 participants, who included local activists, women’s rights organisations, lawyers and students, engaged in an open and vibrant discussion on this fundamental issue for the future of Libya, with a particular focus on women‘s representation in governmental institutions and participation in politics.

Participants shared viewpoints and opinions on how women can have a role in politics, sharing ideas and thoughts of how women’s participation in the Libyan political arena can be promoted and can be effectively achieved.Participants were keen to voice their opinions and hear more about experiences from other countries, in order to understand what lessons can be learnt and applied to Libya. The Tunisian experience was seen as a positive and successful example for the entire Arab region, as Tunisian women’s groups, along with civil society organisations, played a crucial role in the country’s democratic process.

At the end of the colloquium, participants stressed the necessity to promote other similar events to discuss the issue further.

NPWJ in Libya
NPWJ has been working on the Libyan transition since early 2011, in the framework of its project to support Libya’s democratic transition through justice and accountability. As the country embarks on legislative reforms, the Libyan authorities can break with the legacy of impunity and abuses that typified Gaddafi’s rule with a new respect for the rule of law and a commitment to restoring justice and dignity to victims. Doing so requires not only the investigation and prosecution of the crimes and violence perpetrated during the revolution, but also efforts to confront a history of oppression and human rights abuses that dates back decades under the rule of the former regime.

For further information on the activities of NPWJ in Libya please contact Stefano Moschini, Libya Program Coordinator, at smoschini@npwj.org or +218917450375, or Nicola Giovannini on ngiovannini@npwj.org or +32 2 548 39 15..