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By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 12 January 2016:
UN Special Envoy Martin Kobler has called for women to hold 30 percent of the . . .[restrict]posts in the new Government of National Accord.
It is supposed to chosen by the nine-member Presidency Council by Saturday and then voted on by the House of Representatives by 26 January.
Kobler made his call at the opening yesterday of a three-day conference in Tunis of women activists and women’s groups from across Libya. In addition to the 30-percent threshold, he said he would ask the Presidency Council to take onboard three other requests. These were: the establishment of a women’s empowerment unit under the council as soon as possible; for women to have “adequate” representation on all the committees under the Libyan Political Agreement; and for women to have “a focal point” on the council.
In contrast to the call, the council’s members, appointed by the UN-led Libya Dialogue, are all male. Not one, let alone 30 percent, are female.
“The role of the women in peace and security is of utmost importance,” Kobler said in his address at the event, entitled ‘Discussing the Competencies of the Women’s Empowerment Unit under the Presidency Council’. “Women make up half of the society, but they are the most to suffer. Their sons are dying every day in battles, their families are torn apart by conflict and their personal safety is compromised by the continuing senseless violence and lawlessness.”
It was vital that Libyan women play a major role “at this important juncture in Libya’s history”, he added.
“For this you have my full and unwavering support. It will not only advance your participation in state building but it will also bring enormous benefits to Libya”.
The HoR’s deputy president Emhemed Shouaib and HoR member for Sabratha Almabruk Elkabir Al-Khattabi also attended the meeting. [/restrict]
