MPs ask Europe to step up humanitarian role

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KUWAIT CITY, May 17: The parliamentary Human Rights Committee met the European Parliament’s Delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula on Tuesday to discuss humanitarian and political issues of mutual concern, says Committee Chairman MP Jamal Al-Omar.

Al-Omar disclosed the meeting focused on Domestic Labor Law, human rights legislation, Kuwait’s humanitarian role and related international agreements.

He said they also tackled regional issues and developments, such as those concerning refugees and ways to provide humanitarian aid to these people, taking into consideration the humanitarian and charitable roles that Kuwait plays as well as the naming of HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as International Humanitarian Leader.

He disclosed the panel asked for the activation of the European  humanitarian role to match that of America and Russia in terms of protecting human rights, ensuring stability in the region and preventing foreign interferences. He affirmed the delegation promised to exchange visits, while a parliamentary group was tasked to follow up results of such meetings.

In another development, Parliamentary Priorities Committee Rapporteur MP Ahmed Lari hinted on the possibility of discussing the proposal to amend the Anti-Money Laundering Law in the next session.

This is in addition to the amendment of the Private Sector Labor Law to curb visa trading by imposing harsher penalties and to prevent manipulation of government employment contracts, considering around 6,000 workers are currently tainted with suspicions.

Lari praised Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Hind Al-Subaih for the efforts she has been exerting to combat visa trading, as well as Interior Minister Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khalid for the arrest of those who exploited laborers and those behind the issuance of bogus work permits.

In another development, Lari said some MPs might submit a request for a special session on May 26, 2016 to discuss ways to improve the sports sector and lift the suspension on Kuwait’s participation in international sports events.

Talking about the agenda for the sessions slated for May 24 and May 25, Lari revealed the agenda includes the Tenders Law, second deliberation on the Expertise Law, second deliberation on the law to determine the number of those who will be granted citizenship every year and first deliberation on the new Pharmacy Law. He added the legislative and executive authorities have different views on the Pharmacy Law as the government suggested granting pharmacy licenses to companies involved in the pharmacy business without the need to register the license under the name of the Kuwaiti pharmacist, whereas the lawmakers think otherwise.

He reiterated there is a possibility that the Anti-Money Laundering Law might be discussed in this session; in addition to the new Municipal Law if the Public Utilities Committee completes its report on Thursday, amendment of the Rules of Procedure, and adding an article to the Disabled Law for the youths to have a representative in the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Handicapped Affairs (PAHA).

He revealed the committee will meet Minister of Social Affairs and Labor and Minister of State for Planning and Development Affairs Hind Al-Subaih on May 22, 2016 to discuss the government’s report on ministries and institutions which failed to implement the development plan.

He confirmed that the minister prepared a report in compliance with the directive of HH the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak, indicating this report is a manifestation of the government’s keenness to hold accountable all officials who failed to implement the development plan.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Affairs Committee received an invitation to the international forum on the new challenges in parliamentary diplomacy which will be organized the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Community Council of the Algerian National People from May 24-25, 2016.

Committee Chairman MP Kamel Al-Awadhi received the invitation from Ambassador of the Republic of Algeria to Kuwait Abdul Hameed Abdawi at the National Assembly headquarters, where the two sides discussed bilateral relations and ways to develop ties in various fields.

They also talked about a number of issues concerning the two countries and the latest developments in the region and around the world.

The forum will serve as a venue for exchanging views and parliamentary experiences for the participants to benefit from each other’s experiences. It will also tackle issues related to parliamentary diplomacy and the major challenges they are facing.

By Abubakar A. Ibrahim – Arab Times Staff

 

This news has been read 6190 times!

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