Foreign Office Minister meets Libyan Culture Minister
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt and Dr Atia Lawgali discussed the development of civil society during their meeting on 7 Feb.
Speaking following his meeting with Libyan Deputy Minister of Culture and Civil Society, FCO Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt, said:
“I was delighted to meet today with Dr Atia Lawgali, Libyan Deputy Minister of Culture and Civil Society. We agreed that the development of civil society - associations, charities, and campaign groups that can represent different groups and stakeholders - is vitally important to the creation of a society where all views can be heard. Such groups were severely restricted under the Qadhafi regime but, as I saw when I visited Libya last December, a vibrant civil society is emerging. I am delighted that the Deputy Minister is visiting the UK to see how such groups work alongside government - both holding it to account and working with it to achieve common objectives.
“Tomorrow parliamentary colleagues and I will also meet with NGOs and MPs to discuss further how the UK government can strengthen efforts to ensure women are properly represented in the new Libya. As part of our support to Libya’s transition, I am pleased that the UK will be funding projects to help civil society groups empower women, youth and minority groups (to play a full part in the political process). This follows our funding last year, for a groundbreaking conference on the role of women in Libya.”