Women’s Empowerment Thematic Working Group Retreat: A New Chapter in Advancing Empowerment in Libya

The Thematic Working Group (GTG) recently held its highly anticipated retreat on February 10, 2025, marking a significant milestone in the group's ongoing commitment to advancing women’s empowerment within the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Libya. This retreat provided an opportunity to reflect on the group’s accomplishments in 2024, address challenges, and outline priorities for the year ahead.

The Role of the GTG in Strengthening UN Coordination

The Thematic Working Group (GTG), defined in 2019 by standards processes for SDGs , is an inter-agency coordination mechanism within the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) that supports the integration of women’s empowerment across all levels of programming. Aligned with ECOSOC guidance and the 2020 Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review, the GTG focuses on advancing equality and empowering all individuals, which is essential for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The GTG uses a ‘twin-track’ approach to incorporate women’s empowerment across all initiatives and drive targeted actions. It also oversees the UNCT-SWAP Equality Scorecard to promote responsive planning and performance management. The GTG is chaired by the Head of Agency (HOA) of UN Women or another relevant agency, depending on availability and expertise. Through its coordination, the GTG strengthens the UN system’s ability to foster transformative change at the national level.

In Libya, the GTG is chaired by UN Women, with UNSMIL and UNFPA serving as co-chairs. Revitalized in 2023, the group’s work plan was approved by the UNCT, marking a renewed effort to integrate women’s empowerment and rights considerations across all UN programs in the country. This revitalization included a thorough analysis of women’s empowerment within the UNCT using the UNCT-SWAP Equality Scorecard, laying the foundation for targeted actions.

As the central coordination mechanism for women’s empowerment initiatives, the GTG brings together focal points from all UN agencies to ensure a unified approach to integrating women’s issues in every aspect of UN programming. It plays a crucial role in aligning the UN’s priorities with Libya’s needs, keeping empowerment at the forefront of development efforts and promoting long-term, sustainable progress. UN Women’s leadership and support in this effort reinforce its commitment to advancing women’s empowerment within the UNCT.

Key Achievements of 2024:

In 2024, the GTG made significant strides, most notably through its role in advancing the UNCT's commitments and enhancing the integration of women's empowerment into programming, capacity building, and support for relevant policies. Major achievements included:

• CEDAW Reporting: The GTG, led by UN Women, coordinated the preparation and submission of the UNCT's Report to the 91st CEDAW committee for the first time since 2009. This critical milestone showcased the group’s dedication to aligning the UN’s efforts with international human rights frameworks and ensuring Libya’s accountability to global equality standards.
• Gender (Men and Women) Quality Marker (GEM) Training: UN Women led the organization of GEM training sessions in collaboration with the GTG. This initiative significantly strengthened the capacity of UN personnel to integrate empowerment considerations throughout the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), marking a step forward in the systematic integration of equality and empowerment.
• Advocacy and Joint Actions: In 2024, notable advocacy actions included the release of joint press releases for International Women’s Day (IWD) and the 16 Days of Activism campaign. These releases, in collaboration with key stakeholders, underscored the importance of advancing rights and combating violence. UN Women also supported civil society organizations (CSOs) and played an instrumental role in shaping national dialogues on empowerment during Libya’s National Day. UN Women as chair of the GTG coordinated legal analysis, strategic advocacy, and a collective UN response, reinforcing its role in upholding women’s rights in volatile and challenging contexts.

Setting Priorities for 2025 and Beyond

Looking ahead, the retreat emphasized the importance of continued engagement and accountability. The GTG aims to:

• Strengthen participation and accountability within the UNCT by ensuring consistent, active involvement in empowerment activities, particularly around monitoring and reporting progress towards international human rights standards focused on equality.
• Sustain and expand partnerships, particularly with Libyan civil society organizations (CSOs), government bodies, and international partners, to enhance the collective impact of empowerment initiatives.
• Explore new opportunities for cross-thematic learning, especially in emerging areas like Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) and Climate Change, by fostering collaboration with other UN coordination groups.

Reflecting on Challenges and Progress

Throughout 2024, the GTG faced escalating challenges as the environment for rights in Libya became increasingly restrictive. The proposed reactivation of the "morality" police signaled a broader rollback of equality, coinciding with heightened political instability, limited civic space, and growing societal resistance to women’s rights. The shrinking role of civil society organizations, increased censorship, and restrictions on participation in public and political life further compounded these difficulties. Additionally, the persistent lack of legal protections against violence and harassment, as well as the exclusion of women from key decision-making spaces, created significant obstacles to advancing equality. In response, UN Women, in collaboration with the GTG members, facilitating emergency discussions, conducting legal analyses, and developing an action plan to guide the UN’s response. Despite these mounting constraints, the GTG remained steadfast in its commitment to defending women’s rights, ensuring that equality remained a priority amid growing backlashes.

Moving Forward Together

The GTG retreat on February 10, 2025, was more than just a reflection of the past year; it marked a moment of renewed commitment to empowerment in Libya. UN Women remains at the heart of the GTG's work, supporting the UNCT and ensuring women’s empowerment considerations are prioritized in every program, initiative, and policy.

As the GTG continues to evolve, UN Women is proud to be leading the charge in these efforts. Through advocacy, partnerships, and technical support, UN Women is working to build an equitable and inclusive society for all across Libya. This work is not only a priority for the agency—it is at the very core of UN Women's mandate, driving its global mission of equality and empowerment. By strengthening partnerships, sharing knowledge, and upholding accountability, the GTG is poised to continue driving positive change in Libya’s equality landscape in 2025 and beyond.