Twenty-four young men and women from 18 municipalities across Libya’s Western Mountains called for greater youth representation in political decision-making, increased opportunities for women and a stronger role for local governance during a meeting with the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Stephanie Koury, yesterday. The meeting brought together members of the Youth Union of Jabal, a youth-led initiative established in 2017 to promote cooperation and reconciliation between communities. Participants stressed that young people must be recognized as partners in finding solutions to Libya’s political challenges, rather than excluded from decisions affecting their future. “As young people in Libyan society, we often feel reluctant to engage with others about the state of our country. We feel embarrassed that, to date, we have been unable to reach an agreement. We need assurances and guarantees that will help ensure the current roadmap does not fail,” said one participant during a discussion on the outcomes of the Structured Dialogue and the next steps in the political roadmap process. Female participants also emphasized the importance of ensuring that women, including those from cultural components, have meaningful opportunities to contribute to political discussions, reconciliation and decision-making. They called for increased training and capacity-building opportunities from the UN to strengthen women's participation and leadership. “We need women who are educated and able to be partners in decision-making," said one participant. "We cannot build the future of Libya without half of the society. When you empower women, you are not only changing the life of one woman, but you are also expanding the horizons of an entire community,” she added. Read more: