“A Nation’s Future Built Through Intergenerational Dialogue.” Tetteh’s remarks were made during a celebration hosted by the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) for the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. The event was held at Alexandria House for Arts in central Tripoli under the slogan “Building Our Future Together,” attended by several Libyan ministers and officials, accredited ambassadors to Libya, and a large public audience.
In her opening address, Tetteh emphasised that the UN would continue to support Libyans through initiatives that enhance knowledge and skills, stating, “Our measure of success will not be the number of barriers we remove together, but the number of opportunities we create together.”
Following the opening, an important panel discussion was organised, bringing together youth, women, and persons with disabilities from across Libya. The session was managed by the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Stéphanie Khoury, and the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Olga Richardson, with participation from representatives of several UN agencies operating in the country.
Richardson praised the capabilities and clear vision of Libyan youth for building a stable and peaceful state, asserting that “Libya stands at a significant turning point.” She added that the discussion focused on the aspirations of the new generation and ways to enhance their participation in development and decision-making.
Hanna Tetteh, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative in Libya, stated that “the future of any country is constantly built through intergenerational dialogue that blends wisdom with new ideas,” affirming that Libya’s youth are the ones who will lead the way with their dreams, skills, and courage, making their participation in building the future not symbolic but a genuine necessity.
The accompanying exhibition highlights the journey of cooperation between the UN and the Libyan people in the fields of peace, stability, and sustainable development, marking the anniversary of the UN Charter entering into force in 1945, the year the international organisation officially began operating.
The implementation of UN programmes in Libya involves several of its agencies and bodies, including: the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, UNICEF, UNESCO, the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO), alongside UNSMIL and other specialised bodies.