Libya Matters

"They want to take us out of the picture..."What does violence against women and girls look like in Libya today? How is this specifically impacting women human rights defenders? Join hosts Elham Saudi and Marwa Ben Abderrezak, alongside Noura Eljerbi, for the final guest episode of our WPS season, as they explore how women navigate Libya's unstable political landscap

"Violence against women and girls is a political question"This week, hosts, Mae Thompson and Marwa Ben Abderrezak are joined by Hala Al-Karib to discuss the patterns and normalisation of violence against women and girls in the Horn of Africa region. They explore the roles, and failings, of international humanitarian frameworks on this topic and ask who has the power to un

"We have more hope, we have less fear..."How did the 2011 Libyan uprising impact the rights of Imazighen (Amazighs) people? This week, hosts Elham and Mae are joined by Tuza Hasairi to dive into Libya's pre- and post-2011 political and social landscape for Imazighen people. In this conversation, they also explore what inclusion looks like for Imazighen women within L

"It’s not about religion, it’s about freedom of choice…"This week, human rights advocate Shadi Sadr joins hosts Elham and Marwa Ben Abderrezak to explore the current system of gender apartheid in Iran. Together, they examine the years, context and warning signs leading up to the current reality for women, and ask how accountability plays a major role in Iran's

"We say those women's names over and over again..."In this episode, hosts Marwa and Mae are joined by Shuvai Busuman Nyoni to shift our understanding of leadership as a collective movement, rather than focusing on individuals. Shuvai explores examples from across the continent including Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Sudan.Shuvai Busuman Nyoni is a gender, peace and secur

"Be honest…"What has the Taliban takeover meant for women in Afghanistan today? Former Minister of Women’s Affairs, Hasina Safi, shines a light on her experiences in Afghan politics and the erasure of women in public, social and political life under Taliban rule, with hosts, Marwa Ben Abderrazek and Marwa Mohamed. Together, they also explore the responsibility of the

"Solidarity is not just a warm fuzzy feeling…"This week, hosts, Mae and Marwa Mohamed, together with Kaavya Asoka, explore how we build global solidarity between women in civil society. They discuss reprisals against women human rights defenders and activists and the role of the UN in bringing accountability into the picture of global women’s rights.Kaavya Asoka is th

“I don’t want to stop even when I’m 100 years old…”In our first guest episode, hosts Elham and Marwa are joined by Dr. Farida Allaghi to explore her experiences and lessons learnt as an activist growing up in Tripoli, Libya. She also delves into the current realities for women in Libyan politics today. Dr. Farida Allaghi is a renowned Libyan human rights activist and advo

To ease into this new season of Libya Matters, join our hosts Elham and Mae as they set the scene for the next nine episodes, delving into what we mean when we say Women, Peace and Security (WPS). They explore the significance of situating the WPS agenda within the contexts and perspectives of women from the Global Majority and highlight important themes that come up this season, i

For the final episode of the season, hosts Elham and Marwa welcome Dr. Noha Aboueldahab to Libya Matters to explore the role of the Libyan diaspora and what diasporas can offer to justice in their home country. Dr. Noha Aboueldahab is a Non-Resident Fellow in the Foreign Policy programme at the Brookings Institution, Assistant Professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, and Senior