Stephanie Williams, the acting head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, reaffirmed the mission’s commitment to assisting Libyans in establishing an institutional governance system that ensures the rule of law, human rights, and equitable development for all.
This announcement came during a panel discussion organized by the Center for Peace Studies and Crisis Management in Benghazi. Participants called for exploring new avenues for sustainable solutions that break away from past failures.
Williams stated on her X platform account that the UN mission is ready to collaborate with Libyan academia and all Libyans to address the current situation and assist in creating a governance system that upholds the rule of law, human rights, and fair development for everyone.
In two separate meetings in Benghazi, activists expressed their frustration over the non-implementation of political agreements, urging the UN mission to establish robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure the completion of these agreements.
Fifteen activists representing civil society organizations in eastern Libya voiced their hopes for ending political divisions, achieving sustainable stability, expanding political participation, and improving essential services, as per a UN mission post.
Women’s rights activists emphasized the need to meet the political, economic, and developmental needs of the Libyan people and to ensure meaningful representation of women in the political process and decision-making forums.
Williams reiterated the commitment to ensuring that the voices of women, youth, and civil society are considered in shaping Libya’s future.
Williams also met with members of the Libyan Association for Political Science, who analyzed the deep-rooted causes of Libya’s persistent crisis and the need to establish unified institutions that uphold the principles of the rule of law, transparency, and good governance while addressing the urgent needs of citizens.
In another meeting in Benghazi, Williams discussed with Ibrahim Abu Shanaf, Libya’s National Security Advisor, ways to build trust among all Libyan parties and revive the political process. Williams highlighted the challenges of unifying security institutions amid ongoing political divisions and the growing risks from the regional security situation.
These meetings in eastern Libya precede Williams’ anticipated briefing to the United Nations Security Council in mid-June, where she will address the political, security, and humanitarian developments in Libya.
