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The Voice of Libyan Women

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Areas of expertise & Fields of activity:	Gender Issues and Advancement of Women: Advocacy and outreach Capacity building Education and training of women Human rights of women Violence against women Women and HIV/AIDS Women and armed conflict Women and health Women and the economy Women and the media Women in power and decision-making Social Development: Disabled persons
Geographic scope:	National
Country of activity:	Libya
Millennium Development Goals:	Promote gender equality and empower women Develop global partnership for development
Mission statement:	The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." It is a shocking reminder of our own human fallibility that in 2011 this has not yet been accomplished and in many cases is not even approached with any legitimacy. In February 2011, the world witnessed the start of the six month battle for democracy in Libya. What the world did not realize is that they were also witnessing the newfound desire in women for their own rights. Unfortunately for Libyan women the past 42 years of the Gaddafi regime weren’t very liberal or favorable towards them. Instead, the many existing laws which upheld the Islamic belief that women are not only equal to men, but in many instances should even be treated superiorly, were not enforced. To make matters worse, women’s rights were seen as a joke, and it got to the point where many women themselves did not know these laws or rights even existed. Women’s voices were not heard (unless you’re Aisha Gaddafi), initially not for lack of trying, but more so because many women who attempted at any time during the regime, to become involved with their own communities, were quickly and consistently stopped and their efforts were, in essence, quite futile. Fortunately, there can now be not only a dialogue but also a platform in which women can participate in a new, free Libya, in which they can be the masters of their own future. We are a group of Libyan women, young and old, determined to legitimize the demands that women in Libya have for themselves. We hope to represent the women of Libya, who despite being more than half of the population, are in many cases, treated as second class citizens. We believe that especially in Libya, where democracy, rights and even respect for its citizens has been stifled, now more than ever is the time for women to raise their voices. And the desire is so strongly felt in Libyan women today that we believe this can finally be accomplished.
Year established:	2011
Year of registration:	2011
Organizational structure:	Founder - Dr. Alaa Murabit President - Issraa Dau Finance - Samah Elmeri Research - Ferass Mohamed Project Co-ordinator - Maysoon Zagoor Special Abilities Co-ordinator - Arbia Rajah
Number and type of members:	We have 6 Board Members, 60 Active Members and over 200 Volunteers.
Funding structure:	Donations and grants from domestic sources Foreign and international grants

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