Kuwait renews pledge to fight human trafficking, uphold human rights

• Lieutenant General Sheikh Salem Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, and Othman Belbeisi, Regional Director of the IOM for the Middle East and North Africa, discussed ways to strengthen joint efforts in combating human trafficking.

Lieutenant General Sheikh Salem Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior, received on Sunday Othman Belbeisi, Regional Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for the Middle East and North Africa. Belbeisi was accompanied by Mazen Abu Al-Hassan, Head of the IOM Mission in Kuwait, and Asala Aslan, Assistant Project Coordination Support, Arabic daily Al Jarida reported.

The meeting was also attended by Acting Brigadier General Khaled Al-Taraji, Director General of the General Administration of the Office of the Undersecretary; Colonel Mohammed Mustafa from the Criminal Security Affairs Sector; and Colonel AbdulazizAl-Kandari from the Residency Affairs Sector.

Lieutenant General Sheikh Salem Al-Nawaf welcomed the visiting delegation and praised the IOM’s prominent humanitarian role in supporting global efforts to combat human trafficking and assist vulnerable groups around the world.

During the meeting, the organization’s activities in the Middle East and North Africa were reviewed. Mr. Belbeisi provided a detailed overview of the programs and projects implemented in cooperation with governments. The two sides also discussed ways to strengthen joint efforts in combating human trafficking.

Coordination has been established for cooperation on the training front, with the organization and the Ministry of Interior agreeing to hold specialized workshops and training programs in the field of combating human trafficking. These sessions, delivered by experts, aim to train national cadres and Ministry of Interior personnel.

The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior emphasized the importance of unified regional and international efforts to combat human trafficking, reaffirming Kuwait’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with international organizations to protect human rights—reflecting its adherence to relevant international conventions and treaties.

For his part, Belbeisi expressed the IOM’s appreciation for its ongoing cooperation with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Interior and stressed the importance of expanding this partnership to address the growing challenges of human trafficking.