KUWAIT: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) organized a technical cooperation workshop aimed at enhancing the efficiency of members of the National Standing Committee responsible for preparing Kuwait’s national reports for the upcoming fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the UN Human Rights Council, scheduled to take place in May 2024. The workshop was held under the initiative of the Ministry’s Human Rights Department, in cooperation with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen national human rights mechanisms and ensure alignment with Kuwait’s international obligations.
The primary objective of the workshop is to build the capacities and raise the awareness of specialized personnel in the field of human rights. It also aims to equip members of the National Standing Committee with the necessary tools to engage effectively with the UPR mechanism, ensure the submission of comprehensive and accurate national reports, and formulate clear and constructive responses to recommendations received during the review process.
Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs, Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Duaij Al-Sabah
Participants are pictured during the workshop organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. – KUNA photos
First Secretary Mohammed Al-Abduljalil, Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Duaij Al-Sabah, and officials from the Human Rights Commission.
This initiative falls within the broader context of Kuwait’s preparations to participate in the UPR, a key United Nations mechanism established to periodically examine the human rights performance of all UN member states. The workshop highlights Kuwait’s commitment to fostering a culture of human rights, promoting transparency, and engaging in constructive dialogue with international bodies. Experts from the OHCHR are participating in the event, offering in-depth presentations on the objectives, stages, and best practices of the UPR process. Topics include how to present national reports effectively and how to respond to recommendations in a manner that reflects Kuwait’s human rights priorities and progress.
This workshop reaffirms Kuwait’s dedication to strengthening cooperation with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, including through the Human Rights Technical Assistance Program. It underscores the State’s firm commitment to active and constructive engagement in international human rights mechanisms and to advancing cooperation and knowledge-sharing in this vital domain. The Universal Periodic Review was established following UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251 in 2006, which mandated the Human Rights Council to conduct periodic, objective, and equitable reviews of the human rights records of all member states, based on reliable information and consistent standards. — KUNA
KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) Khalifa Al-Ajeel said on Monday that protecting the commercial and industrial system is a “national responsibility that requires concerted efforts.”
Minister Al-Ajeel emphasized in a statement to KUNA following an extensive inspection campaign in the south Amghara scrap yard, to “firmly deal with all violations and encroachments in accordance with legal frameworks where no one is above the law.”
Al-Ajeel confirmed the continuation of inspection campaigns as well until the desired goals are reached, foremost being is restoring order and discipline to the area and removing all violations and encroachments.
He affirmed the ministry and the PAI’s commitment to cooperating with relevant authorities to continue these campaigns to ensure a safe and organized industrial and commercial environment.
The campaign resulted in the seizure of several violations and closure of several non-compliant units in preparation for taking necessary legal action against their exploiters.
Participating in the campaign was General Fire Force (KFF) Chief Major General Talal Al-Roumi, along with several executive leaders from the PAI. — KUNA
CAIRO: The 56th regular session of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights commenced on Monday with the participation of Kuwait and representatives from Arab states concerned with human rights affairs. In his opening address, Ahmed Maghari, supervisor of the Human Rights Department at the League of Arab States, underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling it a stark indicator of the region’s human rights reality. “We cannot speak of the state of human rights without acknowledging the catastrophic conditions faced by our brothers in Gaza, where securing the most basic necessities has become a matter of survival,” he said. Maghari described the ongoing Zionist aggression in Gaza as a profound moral and humanitarian challenge, noting that the Palestinian people continue to endure daily suffering under constant bombardment, displacement and destruction. He lamented the international community’s continued inaction in the face of clear violations of international law and human rights norms. “The occupying power persists in defying international legitimacy and the decisions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the International Court of Justice,” he said.
The 56th session of the Arab Permanent Committee on Human Rights kicks off, chaired by Kuwait.- KUNA photos
Held at a time of mounting regional tensions, the session comes amid escalating challenges that directly affect fundamental human rights. Maghari highlighted the Committee’s historic role since its establishment in 1968 in developing the Arab human rights framework both legally and practically, while also fostering cooperation with regional and international partners. He expressed hope that the session would yield effective recommendations to help confront the pressing challenges in the region. He pointed to the rise of conflicts and violence globally, along with the resulting serious human rights violations, as major concerns.
Emerging issues such as the intersection of human rights with climate change, artificial intelligence, and the spread of alien ideologies that undermine human dignity were also noted. “In light of these challenges, we must reinforce our solidarity and collective action to enhance peace, stability, and the security of our societies,” Maghari added. The two-day session, chaired by Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights, will review the General Secretariat’s report on the implementation of previous recommendations up to the 55th session.
Discussions will also focus on Zionist violations in occupied Arab territories, the plight of Arab prisoners and detainees in Zionist prisons, and the issue of the bodies of Palestinian and Arab martyrs held in so-called “numbered cemeteries.” Other agenda items include the Arab Charter on Human Rights and preparations for Arab Human Rights Day, which will be observed on March 16, 2026. Kuwait is represented at the meeting by a delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah.— KUNA
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