Lamia Abusedra

Lamia Abusedra
In a UNCHR video in 2023
Libyan Ambassador to the United Nations
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 May 2022
PresidentMohamed al-Menfi
Preceded byTaher Al-Sunni
Personal details
Born (1974-01-26) 26 January 1974
Libya
Alma materUniversity of Garyounis
University of Exeter

Lamia Fathi Abusedra (26 January 1974) is a Libyan engineer, revolutionary, political advisor and diplomat.

During the 2011 Libyan Civil War, Abudesdra created a database of people impacted by the war, founded the NGO Forum For a Democratic Libya and the Libyan Coalition of NGOs.

Abusedra was Head of International Relations Administration in the National Transitional Council’s Executive Office of Cultural Relations and Civil Society (EOCCS) after the war, then advised the Minister of State for Institution Reform.

From May 2022, Abusedra has served as the Permanent Representative of Libya to the United Nations at Geneva.

Early life and education

Abusedra was born on 26 January 1974.[1]

Abusedra achieved her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees at the University of Garyounis in Benghazi. After achieving her PhD at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, Abusedra worked as an associate researcher at Exeter's School of Engineering, Computer Science and Mathematics from 2007 to 2009.[1]

Career in Libya

Abusedra returned to Libya and her alma mater the University of Garyounis in 2010, where she taught at the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.[2]

Libyan Civil War and Transitional Council

During the 2011 Libyan Civil War, Abusedra created "a database of people who disappeared, were injured, in hospitals, deprived of homes, or affected by the military actions in any other way."[2] She was a member of the Humanitarian Relief Coordination platform in Benghazi.[3] She also founded the NGO Forum For a Democratic Libya, based in Benghazi, Cyrenaica,[4][5][6] and the Libyan Coalition of NGOs in 2011.[4][7] She said in 2012 that "NGOs in Libya are here to stay. Civil Society will not be repressed like by the previous regime. There is no going back."[8]

Abusedra then became the Head of International Relations Administration under the new de facto government of Libya, serving with the National Transitional Council’s Executive Office of Cultural Relations and Civil Society (EOCCS).[7][9] From March 2013 to December 2014, she served as Deputy Minister of Information of Libya.[10][11] During this appointment, the Libyan Content Development Fund (LCDF) was launched to support development of the Libyan media sector, in partnership with German media development organisation Deutsche Welle and the European Union (EU).[12]

In August 2016, Abusedra participated in the Beyond Borders Scotland's "Fellowship on Peacebuilding and Women’s Meaningful Participation in Peacebuilding Processes."[10] From June 2017 to June 2020, Abusedra served as an advisor to the Minister of State for Institution Reform.[1][2] She was then Foreign Minister, but was replaced by Najla Mangoush in March 2021.[13]

Ambassador to the UN

On 3 May 2022, Abusedra became Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary as the new Permanent Representative of Libya to the United Nations (UN) at Geneva.[1][14][15] In this role, Abusedra has supported and cooperated with the UN's independent fact-finding mission, which had a mandate to investigate human rights, in Libya. The mission found "reports of torture, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and sexual and gender-based violence" and "political division, insecurity, the proliferation of weapons and the increasing phenomenon of irregular migration and external intervention." A national human rights plan has been implemented in Libya to address the issues and violations of international human rights law.[16][17]

Abusedra has also presented reports to the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent[18] and has participated in panels delivered for young women in diplomacy to mark International Women’s Day.[19] In February 2025, Abusedra opened the event "Investing in Stability: Private Sector & Trade Reform for Sustainable Peace in Libya" at the World Trade Organization (WTO).[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "New Permanent Representative of Libya Presents Credentials to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva". The United Nations Office at Geneva. 3 May 2022. Archived from the original on 31 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Zicari, Eglė (15 October 2013). "Libyan revolutionary activist Lamia Abusedra two years after Muamar Kadhafi's fall: "The only option we have is to be optimistic"". en.15min.lt. Archived from the original on 31 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  3. ^ Geha, Carmen (12 February 2016). Civil Society and Political Reform in Lebanon and Libya: Transition and constraint. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-317-29022-3.
  4. ^ a b "Libya govt starts to get tough on road to democracy". Daily Nation. 9 May 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  5. ^ "Starting from scratch: Libyans struggle to build a civil society". Christian Science Monitor. ISSN 0882-7729. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  6. ^ "Libya govt starts to get tough on road to democracy". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  7. ^ a b "Lamia Abusedra". Beyond Borders Scotland. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  8. ^ "Kinda Muhamadieh: Arab civil society is looking beyond political reforms". Social Watch. 19 March 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  9. ^ Stuart, Mark Muller (7 September 2017). Storm in the Desert: Britain's intervention in Libya and the Arab Spring. Birlinn Ltd. p. 210. ISBN 978-0-85790-927-5.
  10. ^ a b "Past Fellows". Beyond Borders Scotland. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Libya: DW Akademie and EU present media reform project". Deutsche Welle. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Innovative Funding Programme for Libyan Media". Institute for War and Peace Reporting. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  13. ^ Zaptia, Sami (18 March 2021). "Updated: Names of Libya's newly endorsed Government of National Unity". Libya Herald. Retrieved 5 August 2025.
  14. ^ "H.E. Dr. Lamia Fathi ABUSEDRA". AI for Good. Archived from the original on 31 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  15. ^ "Libya: humanitarian response ramps up as floods of "epic proportions" leave thousands dead, missing". UN Geneva - Multimedia Newsroom. 12 September 2023. Archived from the original on 31 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  16. ^ "Human Rights Council Holds Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in the Central African Republic and Begins Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya". The United Nations Office at Geneva. 6 July 2022. Archived from the original on 31 May 2025. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  17. ^ UN Human Rights (21 December 2023). Libya on behalf of a number of States, Perm. Rep. of Libya to the UN, H.E. Ambassador Lamia Abusedra. Retrieved 7 May 2025 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ "WG on People of African Descent - 32nd Meeting, 51st Regular Session of Human Rights Council". United Nations Web TV. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  19. ^ "Empowering young women in diplomacy: EU Delegation hosts the 2024 edition of 'The Future is Female'!". The European External Action Service (EEAS). Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  20. ^ "Investing in Stability: Private Sector & Trade Reform for Sustainable Peace in Libya". Institute for Economics & Peace. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
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