Joint Statement by Libyan Non-Governmental Organizations On the World Day of Social Justice
| Ref: PRS 2026/02/1010 | February 20, 2026 |
On the World Day of Social Justice, February 20, 2026, the world renews its commitment to the principles of equality, dignity, and the social and economic rights of all people. On 10 June 2008, the International Labour Organization adopted the ILO Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization, providing a contemporary framework that reinforces the principles of decent work and social protection. The declaration builds on the 1944 Philadelphia Declaration and the 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.
Global Challenges to Social Justice
According to the latest ILO data for 2025, the global economy is experiencing a clear slowdown, with growth projections revised down to 2.8%, compared to earlier expectations of 3.2%, due to geopolitical tensions and declining global demand. Job creation forecasts have also been reduced from 60 million new jobs to 53 million in 2025, reflecting the fragility of global labor markets.
Although the global unemployment rate remains at 5%, broader indicators reveal a significant underutilization of human potential, with millions of people willing to work but not actively seeking employment—an indication of persistent structural imbalances in labor markets. Inequality continues to widen between high‑income and low‑income countries, as advanced economies benefit from productivity gains driven by technology, while job opportunities in low‑income countries remain concentrated in low‑productivity sectors.
The ILO warns that social and economic inequalities are deepening, with more than half of the global workforce facing skills mismatches amid accelerating technological transformations, including automation and generative artificial intelligence.
Social Justice in Libya: Deepening Inequalities and Urgent Challenges
Libya faces profound challenges in achieving social justice, reflected in the widening gap between urban and rural areas, particularly in the south and remote regions. Years of conflict, political division, and deteriorating infrastructure have created stark disparities in access to essential services, especially in healthcare, education, and social protection.
Health and Education: Deteriorating Services and Unequal Distribution
Libya’s health and education sectors suffer from corruption, mismanagement, and weak planning, leading to declining service quality across the country. While resources and functioning facilities are concentrated in major cities, especially Tripoli, rural areas and small towns face severe shortages of services, staff, and basic equipment.
The impact of this inequality extends beyond service quality. It also deepens disparities in employment opportunities and income. Poor educational conditions in rural areas and small towns limit young people’s ability to acquire the skills needed for the labor market, reducing their chances of securing decent jobs compared to their peers in urban areas. Weak healthcare services further undermine productivity and widen socio‑economic gaps between regions.
On 14 February 2026, the Government of National Unity announced the completion of renovation works for 14 health facilities under the “Return of Life” program. However, almost all of these facilities were located in Tripoli or its immediate surroundings, with only two sites more than 100 kilometers away from the capital, all within the western region. This unbalanced distribution reflects a persistent geographical concentration of public investment at the expense of the most marginalized areas.
Economic Justice and the Rising Cost of Living
Despite Libya’s oil wealth, citizens continue to face recurring economic crises, including cash shortages, rising prices, and declining purchasing power. UN reports warn that currency depreciation and the rising cost of living are exacerbating hardship and eroding public trust in state institutions.
International reports also reveal that corruption networks and fuel smuggling have caused losses amounting to billions of dollars, funds that could have been used to improve education, healthcare, and public services. One report estimated that fuel smuggling alone cost Libya USD 20 billion over three years, highlighting the scale of economic leakage depriving citizens of their basic rights.
The Missing Justice for the Displaced and Conflict‑Affected
One of the clearest manifestations of absent social justice is the ongoing suffering of thousands of displaced families and communities affected by conflict, who remain without meaningful compensation or safe housing.
Since 2011, Libya has witnessed repeated waves of displacement, with the number of internally displaced persons reaching hundreds of thousands at various points—many of whom were displaced multiple times.
Areas such as:
- Sirte
- Communities displaced from the eastern region since the 2014 war and its aftermath
- Neighborhoods in Benghazi
- Numerous southern regions
- Communities affected by the 2019 Tripoli war
continue to suffer from destruction and displacement, amid slow reconstruction efforts and the absence of clear policies to reintegrate affected populations and guarantee their rights.
A Call to Action
Achieving social justice in Libya requires:
- A fair and equitable distribution of public investment, especially in health, education, and infrastructure, with priority given to rural and southern regions
- Comprehensive reform of the health and education sectors to address corruption, strengthen governance, and ensure equal access to services
- Enhanced social protection for vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons, migrants, and refugees
- An end to political division and the unification of state institutions to enable fair and effective development planning
- Active civil society participation in monitoring public services and ensuring transparency and accountability
Tripoli, Libya
20 January 2026
Signatory Organizations:
- Al-Bariq Organization for Child Rights, Tripoli.
- Belady Human Rights Watch, Misrata.
- Al‑Naseer Organization for Human Rights, Tripoli.
- Ihqaq for Sustainable Development of Women and Children,
- Human Rights Solidarity Organisation, Tripoli.
- The Benghazi Center for Migration and Asylum Studies, Benghazi.
- Atwar Organization for Research and Community Development, Tripoli.
- Tabayano Human Rights Association, Nalut.
- Rowad Al‑Fikr Matras Organization, Matras.
- 17 February Organization for Environment and Human Rights, Tripoli.
