New York, July 27, 2026—Even though young people were driving forces behind the revolutions in Tunisia, Libya, and Lebanon, their lives have not significantly improved since then. High unemployment, limited economic opportunities, and exclusion from political processes—compounded by political turmoil and conflict—have pushed many to leave their home countries.
Today, ICTJ is releasing a new book featuring the testimonies of 18 young people from or currently residing in Lebanon, Libya, and Tunisia who made the choice to leave their original countries for political or socioeconomic reasons. The book, “Overseas: Young Migrant Voices from Lebanon, Libya, and Tunisia,” is the result of a writing contest organized by ICTJ in September 2023 that invited young people from the region to share their personal experiences of migration in the form of a short, written testimony.
“These stories expose the structural socioeconomic problems and inequalities in the three countries,” says Nour El Bejjani, head of ICTJ’s Lebanon and Yemen programs. “They are a stark reminder that these societies must put forward meaningful and inclusive reforms that create opportunities for their youth to build a dignified future for themselves at home.”
Through storytelling, the book hopes to foster understanding and empathy for the difficult choices young people make when they decide to migrate. The deeply personal stories shed light not only on the economic, social, and emotional challenges that young people face before and after they migrate, but also on the impact their decision to leave has on their families and communities.
“The testimonies offer a wide range of possible reforms that can help the region fully benefit from its qualified young people and be an open window of valuable political and economic opportunities,” explains Salwa El Gantri, ICTJ senior expert and the leader of the project. “They are also an excellent form of documentation that can pave the way to non-recurrence measures and related memorialization.”
This week, El Gantri and El Bejjani are launching the book at an international conference they are convening in Istanbul, Türkiye. The conference focuses on the transformative power of art in the fight for justice, victims’ rights, and an inclusive societal narrative. The event brings justice leaders and experts together with artists, activists, and young people for a series of panel discussions and workshops.
“Art and storytelling can play a vital role in a society’s transition to peace and democracy,” says El Gantri. “They can serve as facilitator, bridge builder, and collective memory in the aftermath of political violence or repression.”
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PHOTO: A participant leafs through Overseas at the ICTJ international conference and book launch event in Istanbul, Türkiye, on July 27, 2026. (Firas BouZeineddine/ICTJ)
