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Hanna Tetteh, the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Libya, attended the ceremony, which also marked International Youth Day.The second cohort of the programme ended their year of training by delivering seven different group presentations on youth empowerment in Libya communication campaigns in front of their families, mentors, UN staff, the international community and the SRSG.“Libyan women face many challenges when trying to engage in their societies and lead. Those can be cultural, they can be political, they can even come from their own families, and sometimes they can even be violent,” said SRSG Tetteh adding that it was crucial women’s voices – young and old – were heard in all walks of life to ensure that Libya’s future was sustainable for all.This year marks 10 years since UN Security Council Resolution 2250, which made youth, peace and security a key element of the peacebuilding work the UN does around the world.Since 2023, the UN in Libya has implemented the Ra’idat programme, taking 35 young women annually from across the country with equal representation from the east, south and west of the country. Each cultural component is represented in the programme, with ten per cent of places also allocated to persons with disabilities.“Today you are graduating as part of a network of women who can help and support you through challenges. The power of that network, the power of support, reassurance, and knowing you can work together as a group, cannot be underestimated. It is easy to dismiss one voice. It is much harder to dismiss thousands,” added the SRSG.“While change does not happen overnight, it also rarely happens as the result of one person’s actions. I sincerely hope that the programme has given you the safety and the space to build the friendships that last a lifetime.”  Six young women were chosen by the programme team to undertake further training in Rome in September, visiting the Italian parliament, meeting prominent Italian female leaders and youth peacebuilders at universities in the city.“As Ra’idat graduates you represent some of the brightest and best young women across the country. You were selected from 750 applicants, many of whom begged us for spaces on the programme. We are extremely proud of the journeys you have gone on to get here tonight.”Graduates from the progamme will now join the Ra’idat Alumni Network – comprised of all the programme’s graduates – and continue to work together to on key issues.The Ra’idat programme is a partnership between UNSMIL, UNICEF, UNDP and UN Women. This year’s cohort was generously supported by the Federal Republic of Germany, the Italian Government, the Government of Finland and the United Kingdom.Cohort 3 of the programme closed for applications on 15 July, with 899 young women entering the process. The selection process is ongoing, with the cohort expected to be onboarded and begin their training in October.