The head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Ian Martin today said civil society must play an important role in Libya’s political transition in the wake of its civil war.
Mr. Martin today visited two towns in Libya’s Nafousa Mountains region. He visited the towns of Al-Zintan and Yefren on 24th of December. He then met with members of the local and military councils as well as representatives of Libyan civil society, including youth and women organizations.
Mr. Martin exchanged views on how UNSMIL and other UN agencies could better assist the Libyans during their transition to elected government.
During the meetings, he stressed the need for election preparations, the integration of rebel fighters into Government jobs, addressing the legacy of human rights violations and current human rights issues and enhancing the participation of Libyan civil society within the national political dialogue.
“Certainly the United Nations here in Libya will always be open to hear the views of civil society. Libyans have made this revolution and Libyans will now make the new Libya.” – Mr. Martin
UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), under the leadership of the Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Ian Martin, has work closely with the interim Government and the National Transitional Council (NTC) as they move towards building “a modern, peaceful, democratic and prosperous Libya.”
Libya’s interim government, the National Transitional Council, has declared its commitment to holding its first election within eight months – a challenging timeline in a country where there has been limited or no electoral experience in over 45 years.
The NTC declared the full liberation of Libya on 23 October, more than eight months after the start of the popular uprising against the regime of long-time ruler Colonel Muammar al-Qadhafi.
Mr. Qadhafi, who had been on the run as his regime collapsed, was captured by then opposition fighters on 20 October and killed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nu4rrJS-74
