Senior High-Level Meeting on “Libyan Women’s Minimum Agenda for Peace”

Ambassador Fasel,
Mr. Naciri [UNWOMEN Regional Director],
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure and an honour to extend to you all on behalf of the Director-General of UNOG a very warm welcome to this High-Level Meeting on the Libyan Women’s Minimum Agenda for Peace. It is a privilege to be hosting such an important event here at the Palais des Nations. Geneva is a city of peace. It has a long standing tradition and commitment to supporting peace processes. I am grateful for the continuing strong support of Switzerland in this area and in strengthening United Nations mediation efforts in Geneva, as well as making today’s meeting possible.
The situation in Libya has been among those that have benefited from the spirit of Geneva. Important progress has been made here in the talks facilitated by the UN Support Mission in Libya. Since UNSMIL convened its first meeting in Geneva, in January 2015, four subsequent rounds of dialogue were held, including one for local communities from the Misrata area which just concluded last week. It is now absolutely crucial that all stakeholders come together for a final push to bring the Libyan political dialogue process to a successful conclusion and the formation of a Government of National Accord. The women participants in the political dialogue have made very valuable efforts to reconcile the differences. Such efforts can and must be re-enforced further through the broader inclusion of women in the peace process.

Fifteen years ago, the Security Council, through its Resolution 1325, recognized the importance of including the role of women in peace and security issues. Last October, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2242, deciding to integrate women, peace and security concerns across all country-specific situations on its agenda.
Across the UN system, steps have been taken to mainstream gender sensitive approaches and to have more senior women in mediation and leadership positions. The UN Support Mission in Libya, in collaboration with UN WOMEN, has been very active in pursuing these goals through exchanges with women groups and advocacy for gender sensitivity. And selecting Geneva as a location for today’s High-Level meeting is particularly fitting as gender equality is high on the agenda of the United Nations Office at Geneva, not least in view of the International Geneva Gender Champions Initiative – a joint initiative by the Permanent Representative of the United States and the Director-General of UNOG – this initiative already has commitments from more than 40 diplomatic missions and more than 20 international organizations based in Geneva.

Libyans, and particularly Libyan women, have suffered and continue to suffer immensely as a result of the armed conflict. The women of Libya have good reason to actively engage for a peaceful future. We have seen in other contexts that courageous, determined and non-violent action by civil society groups can give negotiators the push needed to reach agreement. For example, in Liberia in 2003, a group of women blocked male negotiators in a hotel who had been huddling there for a long time with no result, and actually pressured them into forging a peace agreement, thus helping to end the war in Liberia.

I am confident that civil society groups in Libya can be an important driver of positive change. The strength and resourcefulness that you are demonstrating through your engagement here in Geneva and, most importantly, in Libya, gives reason for optimism. And you can rest assured that the United Nations will continue to support Libyan-driven efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Together, we must ensure that the Libyan Women’s Minimum Agenda for Peace has maximum impact.

Thank you very much.