Category: Key Issues

The Arab League’s Social Affairs Sector, specifically the Women’s Department, signed a cooperation agreement with the United Nations Women Regional Office for the implementation of collaboration programs outlined in the Action Plan 2024.

The agreement was signed by both the Assistant Secretary General of the League, Head of the Social Affairs Sector, Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, and the Regional Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women for the Arab States Dr. Susanne Mikhail, the League said in a statement.

Abu Ghazaleh commended the League and UN collaboration, noting its focus on the Action Plan, which originated from a 2016 memorandum of understanding (MoU).

The collaboration between both sides encompasses various programs, stemming from the inception of cooperation with UN Women, notably the successful Women, Peace, and Security program, which has contributed to formulating strategies for Arab women’s security and peace, as well as producing biennial reports on Arab
countries’ advancements in this domain, she added.

She noted additional areas of cooperation with UN Women, including efforts against gender-based violence and political collaboration, with plans to initiate economic cooperation.

She expressed joy at Dr. Sima Bahouth, an Arab woman and former assistant secretary general of the Arab League, leading UN Women.

Abu Ghazaleh emphasized the prioritization of Palestinian women by the League across all sectors, including social affairs, mentioning upcoming meetings to address the war on Gaza’s impact on Arab women.

She highlighted the League’s focus on women’s issue in conflict zones, collaborating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to develop an anti-violence strategy.

On her side, Dr. Mikhail expressed reverence with the League collaboration, initiated in 2016 and deepened over the years.

She pointed out the suffering of women in conflict zones in the region, especially in Gaza, where 10,000 women, including 6,000 mothers, have been killed
.

Dr. Mikhail thanked Abu Ghazaleh for supporting women’s issues in the Arab region, citing great achievements in women’s affairs between the UN and the League, such as peace mediator networks, emergency committees, and expanding cooperation in women’s economic empowerment.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

The European Union (EU) and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) high-level forum on regional security and cooperation taking place Monday in Luxembourg is an opportunity to underscore bilateral relations, announced GCC Secretary General Jasem Al-Budaiwi on Sunday.

In a press statement, Al-Budaiwi said the forum is chaired by Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the chair of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council, with High Representative Josep Borrell.

Heads of states as well as Foreign Ministers from the GCC and EU will attend the forum.

Al-Budaiwi stressed the forum’s role in strengthening and developing bilateral relations between the EU and the GCC to further reinforce and unify viewpoints.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya on Sunday received a telephone contact from the Serb Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, discussing the solid bilateral relations bonding the two friendly countries and means of promoting them in various sectors.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi spoke to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on the latest developments of the situation in the Middle East.

During a phone conversation on Saturday, both sides highlighted the need of resolving the disputes in the region, notably the conflict in Gaza Strip, with political means, according to a press release from the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They stressed the importance of efforts to reach an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and a fair settlement to the Palestine question in order to restore security and stability in the Middle East.

Source: Kuwait News Agency

British Ambassador to Lebanon, Hamish Cowell, received today at his residence Bahaa Rafik Hariri, with whom he discussed the general prevailing situation and regional political developments.

The visit was an occasion for the British Ambassador to offer his deepest condolences to Hariri on the recent passing of his aunt’s husband, Mustafa Hariri.

Source: National News Agency – Lebanon