By Tariq Alferis, WBW Libya Chapter Coordinator, September 2, 2025
In the midst of Libya’s fragile post-conflict landscape, the Libya chapter of World BEYOND War is affirming how peace is necessary and possible. Against a backdrop of political instability, armed divisions, and the long shadow of war, our chapter is working to nurture dialogue, empower youth, and connect peacebuilding with climate justice. I have recently attended regional programs in Lebanon, Turkey and Jordan that reflect this commitment. These are events that helped to amplify Libyan youth voices and also to strengthen cross-border solidarity to show that even in times of crisis, creativity, cooperation, and nonviolent solutions can light the path toward a world beyond war.
Libya Chapter at the Fa’ael Workshop in Lebanon on Creativity and Peace
I represented the World BEYOND War Libya chapter at the Fa’ael Workshop, organized by Action for Hope in Broumana, Lebanon. This workshop on cultural project management under difficult circumstances brought together young people from across the Middle East and North Africa. At the heart of our exchanges, we explored how culture can serve as a powerful tool for resilience, social cohesion, and peaceful resistance. The practical training we received on project design, sustainability, and community impact strengthened our ability to carry forward cultural initiatives as drivers of peace. For our chapter, this experience reflects our mission to demonstrate that beyond weapons and divisions, creativity and solidarity open real pathways toward a world without war. It also paves the way for deeper collaboration with other war abolitionists in the region, using culture as a force for social transformation and nonviolence.
Libya Chapter at the Euro-Mediterranean Summit
Early in March, I had the honor of participating in the Euro-Mediterranean Summit of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions, held in Istanbul to mark the 30th anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration. Co-organized by the European Commission (DG NEAR) and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), the summit brought together more than 120 civil society leaders, youth advocates, and institutional representatives under the theme “A New Pact for the Mediterranean.” As a youth advocate from Libya, I used the opportunity to highlight the need for regional partnerships that prioritize peace, dignity, resilience, and youth empowerment. At a time when our region faces complex crises, investing in people rather than militarization is the only sustainable path forward. Key discussions at the summit addressed pressing challenges such as climate adaptation, blue diplomacy, and entrepreneurship. Each of these themes connects directly to peacebuilding: protecting our environment, building cooperative bridges across borders, and creating opportunities for young people all reduce the drivers of conflict and strengthen communities. During the summit, I also reminded that our mission is to end wars, but also to build positive conditions for lasting peace across the Mediterranean and beyond. It also reinforced the importance of solidarity between movements, organizations, and generations working together for a future where cooperation replaces division, and where nonviolence is the guiding principle of our shared Mediterranean home.
WBW Libya at the First MENA4YPS Regional Consultation
In Amman, Jordan, I had the privilege of participating in the first in-person regional consultation of the MENA Coalition on Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS), which brought together 22 youth leaders from across the Middle East and North Africa. As one of the youth facilitators, this was a landmark moment for me: leading my first regional consultation, engaging with peers from diverse backgrounds, and exchanging ideas on how to strengthen youth-led peacebuilding and regional cooperation. Together, we explored how the YPS Dashboard can serve as a practical tool to track progress, identify gaps, and amplify youth contributions to peace and security.
The consultation, made possible through the support of the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), underscored the growing recognition that youth are not only stakeholders but also drivers of peace processes. Our discussions revealed common challenges, from conflict and displacement to shrinking civic spaces, as well as innovative solutions driven by creativity, solidarity, and resilience. With this experience, we reaffirmed our mission of ending war, which requires empowering the next generation to take ownership of peacebuilding. It is through youth networks, cross-border dialogue, and sustained collaboration that we can replace cycles of violence with a culture of nonviolence and justice. Leaving Amman, I carry with me a deepened conviction: young people are not the future of peace, we are its present. And together, across the MENA region, we are proving that a world beyond war is not only necessary, but possible.
