Building Peace based on Ownership of Women and Youth: Understanding and Documenting Local Experiences in Libya

The prolonged conflict in Libya has significantly hindered the progress of women and youth in peacebuilding efforts, leaving the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agendas marginalized and facing considerable challenges. Despite constitutional provisions and quotas aimed at increasing women's representation in parliament and leadership positions, there are no guarantees to protect them from retaliatory actions due to the lack of security sector reforms. Moreover, the role of youth in peacebuilding is underappreciated, with many studies highlighting a significant lack of gender- and age-disaggregated data on the conflict and violence in Libya, which presents an incomplete picture of the challenges faced by Libyan women and youth. In response, UN Women Libya, in collaboration with the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), conducted a survey to better understand and document the experiences of local peacebuilders. This paper captures the perspectives and challenges of Libyan women and youth in peacebuilding, offering insights and recommendations to enhance their inclusion and leadership in the process.