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Kuwait suspends charity drives pending regulatory reforms

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Ban part of broader reform to improve coordination in charity sector amid anti-money laundering push

KUWAIT: The Ministry of Social Affairs has suspended all charitable fundraising activities across Kuwait until further notice, citing concerns over unauthorized campaigns.

The decision, announced in an official statement by the ministry on Saturday follows the discovery of donation drives linked to unofficial websites and accounts operating in violation of approved charitable guidelines. The suspension applies to all licensed charitable associations and philanthropic organizations across the country.

The ministry said the suspension will remain in place until new procedures — aimed at protecting donor funds, preventing duplication, and ensuring transparency — are fully implemented. Organizations found in violation risk penalties ranging from account suspension to a complete operational halt.

The move comes as part of a broader regulatory campaign to modernize oversight of Kuwait’s charitable sector. In a separate circular issued to charity boards on April 17, the ministry outlined new rules governing how organizations may advertise and operate. The circular prohibits advertising charitable projects through unapproved channels such as social media, digital billboards, shopping malls, and cooperative societies. All fundraising promotions now require prior written approval from the ministry and coordination with relevant authorities.

It also mandates that charities notify the ministry at least two weeks in advance before organizing any events or activities, whether held locally or abroad. This includes campaigns, markets, public ceremonies, workshops, and conferences. Agreements with foreign institutions or international organizations must also receive prior clearance through the Ministry in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Organizations sending representatives abroad are required to register through the “Safe Traveler” system, managed in cooperation with the foreign ministry.

These updates build on earlier efforts to digitize and streamline charitable coordination. In early 2025, the ministry launched a new digital platform integrated with the Mobile ID system, designed to centralize aid applications, improve coordination, and ensure fair distribution of resources. The platform provides preliminary beneficiary data while protecting personal information and flags unprocessed requests to both the ministry and participating charities. It remains unclear whether charities have begun using the system. Since November 2024, Minister of Social Affairs Dr Amthal Al-Huwailah issued ministerial decisions dissolving at least 30 charities after inspections revealed that some organizations were not actively engaged in charitable work for years. These measures are designed to eliminate inactive or ineffective organizations and ensure that resources are being used efficiently.

The reform push also aligns with Kuwait’s efforts to improve financial oversight and comply with international anti-money laundering standards. A Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report released in November 2024 acknowledged Kuwait’s legal framework to combat illicit finance, but pointed to enforcement challenges. Countries that fall short of FATF standards risk being greylisted or blacklisted, which can affect global financial relations. Kuwaiti authorities have since ramped up coordination among ministries to tighten control, particularly over cross-border donations. Officials say these efforts aim to uphold Kuwait’s humanitarian leadership while meeting international best practices.

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Kuwait Commerce Min.: Protecting industrial system is Nat’l responsibility

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 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.”

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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

 

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Human Rights Committee session begins with focus on Gaza, regional challenges

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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.

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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Crown Prince receives Egyptian Deputy PM

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KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received on Tuesday at Bayan Palace the Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry, Lieutenant General Kamel Abdulhadi Al-Wazir, and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of their official visit to the country. The meeting was attended by Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works Dr Noura Al-Mashaan and Egypt’s Ambassador to Kuwait Osama Shaltout.– KUNA photos

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