Libyan Women in Public Office and Decision-Making Positions

This study was conducted with the aim of analyzing the current state of women's participation in public office and decision-making positions within the Libyan governmental framework and to explore the structural and cultural challenges hindering their advancement. The study, conducted by a national research team between October and December 2022, employed mixed methodologies and included interviews with 96 key administrative employees from the Ministries of Local Governance and Planning.

The key findings assessed the status of women in ministerial institutions, revealing that women constitute approximately 46% of the total workforce in these institutions, indicating a higher female representation in sectors such as education and health, while women remain significantly underrepresented in fields such as defense and interior affairs. Despite this participation, women’s presence in leadership positions remains extremely limited, with only five women holding leadership roles in the ministries covered by the study.

The report reviews existing legal commitments and national laws advocating for equal workplace opportunities, while highlighting gaps in the effective implementation of these legal frameworks. the study identifies several factors hindering women's advancement, including administrative and professional challenges such as the absence of clear career development plans and promotion systems that disproportionately affect women. This challenge is further exacerbated by the dominance of men in leadership positions, which limits women's leadership aspirations. Furthermore, political, economic and social instability in Libya creates ongoing disruptions that contribute to an unstable governance environment, making it more difficult for women to attain leadership positions in the public sector.

The study concludes with, several recommendations to strengthen women's representation in public governance, these include improving data collection and quality regarding women's role in the labor market, reassessing legislative frameworks to close gaps in legal protection for women's rights, and enhancing the capacity of women's empowerment offices within ministries to ensure their effectiveness and clarity of purpose, in addition to fostering collaboration with non-governmental organizations to advocate for women's rights and fair workplace practices.