Locations
Introduction
‘Strengthening the Rule of Law and Justice in Libya’ is a multi-year project implemented by UNDP in collaboration with UNSMIL. The project is funded by the Italian Government, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Swiss government.
The project works closely with the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, The Attorney General’s Office and other key stakeholders in the justice and security system to establish responsive justice institutions and increase access to justice and security for the community, including women, children, relatives of the missing persons, and other vulnerable groups.
Objectives
The strengthening the Rule of Law and Justice in Libya project focuses on three main objectives:
1. Establishing responsive institutions: collaborating with key government institutions to ensure transparent, effective, and efficient justice system nationwide.
2. Increasing communities’ access to justice and security: enhancing access to justice and security through legal aid, capacity-building and public awareness-raising with a focus on women, children, relatives of missing persons and other vulnerable groups.
3. Creating conducive environment to strengthening the rule of law: partnering with national and local government actors, CSOs, and youth and women’s networks to improve key legislation and legal framework that promote and respect human rights.
Approach
The project applies people-centered approach to justice, ensuring that support provided to the government institutions (as well as non-government) are tailored to the reality and the needs of the people in Libya, especially women, youth, the families of missing persons, and other vulnerable groups. The project also aims to empower the people by raising awareness of their rights, how to advocate for and claim them as well as by encouraging their participation in the rule of law and justice processes.
Taking into account the sensitivity of the file of Missing Persons, the project also adopts a victim- and rights-centered approach to transitional justice and reconciliation, prioritizing the needs of affected communities. Given the complexity of the missing persons file, particularly in conflict and post-conflict settings, the project adopts an approach rooted in inclusivity and the Do No Harm principle.
Implementing the project in the highly dynamic and fast-changing political setting such as Libya requires an adaptive management approach, allowing flexibility and effective responses to challenges and opportunities.
Achievements
Since the inception of the project in 2022 and until 2024, the project has achieved key milestones:
1. Advanced transitional justice process and reconciliation. UNDP and UNSMIL supported the submission of a final draft of the reconciliation law to the House of Representative (HoR) in November 2024. Working closely with the HoR, the Libyan Presidential Council (PC), and the High Council of State (HCS), UNDP facilitated a meeting to align the draft with international standards and best practices of transitional justice. While challenges remain regarding the law’s adoption, this marks a significant step towards accountability. The UN will continue to advocate for the implementation of a transitional justice process that addresses victims’ grievances and promotes their right to truth, justice, reparations and guarantees of non-repetition.
2. Improved condition in Jdaida women prison. The project established a vocational training center at Jdaida Women’s Prison to support correctional and reintegration efforts. Through a Training of Trainers (ToT) approach, five sewing trainers were and subsequently trained 17 inmates. Additionally, an IT training program conducted from May to August 2024, equipped 12 beginners with essential computer skills. The interactive nature of the training ensured that participants gained practical, hands-on knowledge.
3. Improved partnership with key stakeholders. UNDP and UNSMIL have built strong and credible relationships not only with authorities in both the West and East, but also the CSOs, and the communities, including families of missing persons. These solid relationships enabled the project to implement activities in a participatory, timely, and effective manner. The collaboration between UNDP and UNSMIL was also vital in leading coordination efforts in the sector, engaging key stakeholders and the international community to exchange best practices, streamline efforts and avoid duplication.
4. Improved the Bar Associations. As part of the effort to enhance skills and improve access to the job market, the project increased the confidence of 73 female junior lawyers. The beneficiaries come from different part of the country including, Tripoli, Benghazi, Al Bayda, Ajdabiya, and Al-Zawiya. They strengthened their capacities in technical areas such as international human rights standards and code of professional ethics as a lawyer.
5. Generated relevant knowledge products. The project generated several high quality knowledge products, including three comprehensive Rule of Law Assessments in the municipalities of Benghazi, Sebha, and Gharyan as well as a perception study on the issue of Missing Persons and a mapping of the legal framework addressing this issue. These evidence-based knowledge products have helped refine the project’s strategy to further align with the community needs of and the realities on the ground, especially those of the marginalized.
