Bahrain eyes ambitious GCC social safety network plan

Bahraini Minister of Social Development Fatima Al-Balushi urged the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states to develop a social safety network to help achieve social stability for the Gulf nations. "The Gulf region is undergoing fast-paced changes that aggravated the economic, political, and environmental problems," Al-Balushi said in the opening speech of the 30th session of the GCC Social Development Ministers Council, kicked off Tuesday. The Minister added that these changes have gravely impacted the whole social situation in the region. She the stressed that the need for collective and coordinated efforts to address and find effective solutions to these challenges to avoid any social risks. "Social safety network is one of the most important poverty combating mechanisms," she said. For his part, Assistant GCC Secretary General for Development Affairs Abdullah Al-Hashem said in an address he delivered on behalf of the Secretary General Abdullateef Al-Zayani, the meeting will tackle a wide-array of issues relevant to development in the GCC region, social care and special needs and children care. Al-Hashem added that the GCC charter offers a comprehensive framework for integration among the six member states. Following the opening speeches, Minister Al-Balushi honored a number of pioneering Gulf non-governmental organizations for their contributions to serve their communities. Among the honored NGOs was Kuwait's Al-Rahma Committee for Medical Services, an affiliate to Al-Najah Charity, for offering medical care services to poor expatriates in Kuwait. The honoring is meant to help boost and promote the values of social responsibility among governmental and non-governmental organizations in the GCC countries. The Kuwaiti delegation to the 30th session of the GCC Social Development Ministers Council is headed by Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Thikra Al-Rashidi.