UNICEF Annual Session

Mr. President, Madam Executive Director, Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Executive Board,

The State of Libya is honored to participate in the work of this session and to express its appreciation for the efforts exerted by UNICEF in protecting and promoting children’s rights in accordance with its humanitarian and developmental mandate.

Libya values the contents of the Annual Report of the Executive Director for 2025 and the progress achieved in implementing the Integrated Results and Resources Framework. My country underscores the importance of strengthening national ownership in programme design and implementation, and increasing core resources to ensure the sustainability of the organization’s interventions, while continuing to improve operational efficiency without prejudice to its mandate or the role of governments.

With regard to humanitarian action, Libya stresses that the response must be based on actual needs and implemented in a manner that respects the sovereignty of states. It also emphasizes the importance of the humanitarian-development nexus to ensure sustainable solutions for children, and to support the capacities of states to rebuild basic services, particularly in the fields of education, health, and water.

Libya welcomes the progress made in implementing the Gender Action Plan and stresses the need to protect girls from all forms of violence, enhance their opportunities in education and future skills, and develop disaggregated data that supports evidence-based planning.

Libya reiterates its commitment to the partnership with UNICEF in implementing country programmes and values the existing cooperation in the fields of health, education, child protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH). In this context, Libya wishes to note the progress achieved during 2025, where health and immunization services were strengthened, efforts to reform the educational system were supported, child protection programmes were expanded, and access to water and sanitation was improved in a number of municipalities. Libya also appreciates the support provided to build national capacities in the areas of planning, case management, and data collection, thereby contributing to enhancing the ability of national institutions to deliver sustainable services to children and families. My country reaffirms its commitment to continuing this cooperation in line with the priorities of the Libyan Government and the needs of children throughout the country.

Regarding the protection of children from exploitation and abuse, Libya affirms its full support for the zero-tolerance policy and stresses the importance of strengthening prevention and accountability mechanisms, as well as building national capacities in this field.

Libya also welcomes UNICEF’s efforts to foster an organizational culture based on integrity, transparency, and diversity, and emphasizes the need to achieve an equitable geographical balance in recruitment and to enhance the participation of qualified professionals from developing countries.

Libya affirms its support for the United Nations reform efforts, including the UN80 initiative, while emphasizing that any reform must enhance the effectiveness of field operations and respect governmental mandates in planning and implementation.

In conclusion, Libya renews its commitment to the partnership with UNICEF in protecting children’s rights and reaffirms its readiness to enhance cooperation to achieve a safer and more prosperous future for children in Libya and across the world.

Thank you, Mr. President.