Kuwait halts relief missions to countries with security risks

• The Ministry of Social Affairs stated it will not accept addresses from associations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding relief dispatches to prohibited countries and urged associations to refrain from formally submitting such requests to protect their representatives from backlash.

The Ministry of Social Affairs, through the Department of Charitable Associations, has notified all boards of directors of charitable organizations about the prohibition of their delegates from traveling on relief missions to countries with unstable security and political conditions. As a result, these countries have been removed from the “safe traveler” category in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ electronic system for humanitarian action, according to Al Jarida newspaper.

According to sources, the ministry recently received an official communication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting that it circulate the need for associations to comply with the aforementioned procedures.

The ministry emphasized that it would not consider addresses from associations directed to Ministry of Foreign Affairs related to relief dispatches for the prohibited countries and urged associations to avoid formally submitting requests for this purpose in order to protect their representatives from any backlash.

Ministry set to dissolve twelve charities over rule violations and management requests

Additionally, the sources revealed that the ministry is expected to issue a decision this week to dissolve twelvecharitable platforms—ten for violating advertising laws, controls, requirements, and regulations, and two at their own request for part-time management of two schools.

The Department of Charitable Associations has previously submitted a sufficient memorandum to the Committee for Advertising, Evaluation, and Dissolution of Public Benefit Associations, recommending the dissolution of these platforms, which have been several years late in submitting their final administrative and financial reports to the ministry. This delay violates Articles 6 and 7 of Article 18 of the Model Statute of Charity and Article 27 of Law No. 1962/24 concerning Clubs and Public Benefit Associations.

The sources stated that “the concerned department conducted field inspection visits to the headquarters of these stations to assess their effectiveness and the services they provide to the community, as well as their compliance with the regulations governing charitable work and the goals for which they were established. This confirmed their inactivity and failure to carry out any activities on the ground for several years.”

The sources also noted that the bank accounts of these entities had been closed for a long time and that they had not provided the ministry with budget estimates or financial reports for years.

The sources pointed out that the Advertising Committee submitted a memorandum to the Minister of Affairs for approval to address these measures, after which it will approach the Council of Ministers for approval of their dissolution.

They emphasized that the ministry will decide to dissolve any organization that continues to violate the regulations and laws governing charitable work in the country, or that remains ineffective and has no role on the ground, unless they rectify their situations, avoid violations, and strive to fulfill their social roles effectively.

Regarding the funds deposited in the accounts of these entities, the sources indicated that they will be transferred to the ministry after their liquidation, in preparation for determining the entity to which they will be allocated. This is in accordance with Article 25 of the Model Law of Charity Regulations, which stipulates that “the Ministry of Social Affairs shall initiate, with regard to the general associations of public benefit associations, the terms of reference in a manner that does not contradict the nature of the platform’s activities. The funds of the platform shall be transferred to the ministry upon liquidation to determine the entity to which these funds will be transferred.”

Minister Al-Huwaila amends Cooperative Societies Statute in key 2024 decision

Dr. Amthal Al-Huwaila, the Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs, issued Ministerial Decision No. 219 of 2024, amending Ministerial Decision No. 166/T of 2013 concerning the Model Statute of Cooperative Societies. The amendment states: “Article 43 of the aforementioned Ministerial Decree shall be replaced as follows: Any interested party may, within fifteen days of the election results being announced, appeal the election of the Board of Directors’ members by submitting a reasoned petition to the ministry. The appeal will be considered by a competent committee formed by an administrative decision, and its decision shall be final.”

Additionally, Dr. Al-Huwaila issued Ministerial Decision No. 220 of 2024, withdrawing Decision No. 111, which established an organizational unit affiliated with the legal affairs sector, based on a letter from the Service Commission regarding amendments to the organizational structure.