Since the 2011 revolution in Libya, the country has been attempting to transition to a stable and democratic society.

An essential part of this effort, the formation of a new constitution will provide a legal foundation to move the country out of its current political situation and toward a democratic process with new elections.

Funded by the US-Middle East Partnership Initiative, the four-year Libyan Engagement and Governance through Applied Learning (LEGAL) project assisted the Government of Libya to coordinate the process of drafting the constitution. The project was implemented by Creative Associates International.

Through the project, Creative worked closely with the Libya’s Constitutional Drafting Assembly to mediate conflicts within the assembly and facilitate discussions to reach a consensus on a final draft of the constitution.  In close partnership with the project, Libya’s Constitutional Drafting Assembly reached a landmark moment in July 2017 when it approved a final draft of the constitution, paving the way for a popular referendum.

As a follow-up to the constitutional work accomplished by the LEGAL project, the LEGAL-Dustur project built a greater understanding of the proposed constitution among key stakeholders. It is also facilitated the movement toward a constitutional referendum.

The project assisted the Constitutional Drafting Assembly in its outreach with the Libyan government, and with the country’s Amazigh and Tebu minority populations. It also provided continuing technical support to the Constitutional Drafting Assembly on questions surrounding the draft itself, and with any legal and political challenges it may face leading up to a referendum.

The project has facilitated the first-ever official meetings between the Constitutional Drafting Assembly and Libya’s House of Representatives, which has been widely credited in helping move the constitutional process forward. LEGAL-Dustur will continue to facilitate the Constitutional Drafting Assembly and Libyan government engagement, while broadening inclusivity through outreach efforts with Libya’s minority populations.