On 21 November, UNSMIL said it had held a meeting on challenges and opportunities in sup porting disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of militias in Libya that took place on 18 November. It brought together representatives of UNSMIL, the Government of National Unity (GNU), civil society organizations from across the country, and their international counterparts. UNSMIL representatives emphasized that the current focus of the mission is on promoting the unity of Libya, facilitating dialogue and strengthening cooperation between all Libyan stakeholders. The aim is to build trust, prevent conflict and lay the foundation for a lasting peace.
Civil rights activists from Cyrenaica and the Fezzan underscored the role of civil society in supporting institutions to advocate for and uphold human rights. According to them, civil society representatives from across the country are urging the authorities to respect human rights, monitor violations and address the needs of the various local communities in order to reduce tensions. They asked the au thorities for more collaboration with civil society to build trust and foster national unity.
Representatives from the GNU Ministries of Labour and Defense highlighted the government’s efforts and concrete initiatives to support the socio-economic reintegration of ‘former combatants’ into soci ety. They emphasized the importance of supporting the youth with employment opportunities through skills training, job creation, and rehabilitation services that support the return to civilian life. UN Women’s representatives supported this, highlighting leadership initiatives for women and em phasizing the importance of taking women’s needs into account when designing community strategies.