Geneva Institute for Human Rights

1- Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Kuwaiti Women's Associations Union and the Geneva Institute for Human Rights, December 2022

The Kuwaiti Women's Associations Union announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Geneva Institute for Human Rights in Switzerland. This memorandum aims to enhance and protect women's rights and the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030. It seeks to exchange experiences and enhance cooperation between the two entities.

The Chairperson of the Union's Board of Directors, Sheikha Fadia Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, confirmed that the cooperation between the two institutions has been ongoing for some time. This memorandum will contribute to supporting and ensuring the continuity of their joint work to serve human rights in Kuwait. This collaboration will positively impact the advancement of human rights in the country.

The memorandum is in line with their shared objectives, aiming to elevate Kuwaiti women's leadership and women's associations concerning human rights and women and children's rights. This partnership will strengthen the community role of women and enhance their status while developing their capabilities to promote communication and collaboration with United Nations institutions responsible for monitoring and protecting human rights.

Sheikha Fadia also expressed the desire of both parties to coordinate and collaborate on sharing knowledge related to empowering Union members in the field of human rights. They aim to produce knowledge through research and studies, focusing on marginalized groups from a human rights perspective, organizing activities, and educational visits to achieve their goal.

The memorandum, signed on the 16th day of the campaign against violence against women and Human Rights Day, has a duration of one year. It aims to support the Institute in fulfilling its local, regional, and international roles, as well as the exchange of technical and technological expertise, especially in organizing training courses in the field of human rights.

It also aims to enhance cooperation and partnership between the Union and the Institute in promoting and protecting women's rights. This will include developing programs and projects to enhance the capacities of those working in the field and spreading a culture of human rights. The parties will work to strengthen their cooperation, share experiences in women's rights, and in international mechanisms concerned with women's rights.

In conclusion, the signing of this memorandum marks a significant milestone in their cooperation, and it will have a significant role in strengthening and protecting women's rights and the development and dissemination of human rights culture in general and women's rights in particular. The memorandum will also focus on developing methods and tools for interacting with United Nations mechanisms related to human rights protection.

Nazar Abdelkader Saleh, the Executive Director of the Geneva Institute for Human Rights, commended the signing of the memorandum and pointed out the Institute's rich history in working with various governmental and non-governmental institutions in Kuwait since its establishment in 2004. The Institute has cooperated with the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Judicial Institute, and several Kuwaiti non-governmental organizations operating in the field of human rights.

He emphasized the vital role of non-governmental organizations in developing, enhancing, protecting, and promoting human rights at both local and international levels. The Geneva Institute for Human Rights is keen to collaborate and form partnerships, particularly with influential and effective organizations such as the Kuwaiti Women's Associations Union.

The memorandum of understanding is expected to achieve its objectives and significantly contribute to enhancing, protecting, developing, and promoting human rights culture in general and women's rights in particular. It will also work on developing tools, knowledge sharing, and training techniques regarding human rights, alongside United Nations mechanisms for human rights protection.

Both parties will cooperate in studying local needs, setting priorities, and developing knowledge resources and training portfolios. They will work on enhancing their cooperation, and a joint committee will be established to create guidelines and mechanisms for implementing the memorandum.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by Sheikha Fadia Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Kuwaiti Women's Associations Union, and Nazar Abdelkader Saleh, Executive Director of the Geneva Institute for Human Rights