Minister of Social Development visits Saudi Arabia to review the development and social experiences

23-08-2022

A delegation from the Ministry of Social Development, headed by His Excellency Mr. Osama bin Ahmed Khalaf Al-Asfour, Minister of Social Development, paid a visit to the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to learn about development and social experiences. The delegation included a number of officials and specialists working in the field of social assistance and international and Arab relations in the Ministry. This visit comes within the framework of enhancing prospects for joint cooperation between the two brotherly countries, learning about the prominent and advanced experiences of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in social affairs, strengthening relations in the social and development fields, as well as exchanging experiences in the most prominent programs and projects related to the ministry's field of work. On this occasion, the Minister of Social Development affirmed the depth of the historical fraternal relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in light of the support and interest it enjoys from His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Kingdom of Bahrain, and his brother, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and what characterizes these solid relations that were laid down over many decades and characterized by strategic development within the framework of a common vision to continue the progress of bilateral relations and enhance joint cooperation in various fields. During the visit, His Excellency the Minister of Social Development and the accompanying delegation met with Eng. Ahmed bin Suleiman Al-Rajhi, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the presence of a number of relevant officials of the ministry, where the two sides reviewed aspects of joint cooperation and related issues between the two countries in the areas of social development. The Ministry's delegation also presented the most prominent projects and initiatives undertaken by the Kingdom of Bahrain within the framework of the comprehensive development march led by His Majesty the King, may God protect and preserve him, in the field of providing an integrated system of social protection, providing support for families and empowering people with special needs in society, as well as the most important issues related to supporting civil society organizations and strengthening social partnership to achieve sustainable development in the Kingdom of Bahrain. During the visit of the delegation of the Ministry of Social Development to the headquarters of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, Minister Al-Asfoor met with His Excellency Mr. Majid bin Abdul Rahim Al-Ghanimi, Deputy Minister for Social Development and a number of relevant undersecretaries of the Ministry. They discussed the most prominent programs of common interest between the two sides, and reviewed the experiences of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the General Administration for Protection from Domestic Violence, and the most prominent legislation and laws concerned with providing comprehensive protection in this aspect, as well as the experience of the General Administration for Juvenile Welfare and its policies and programs aimed at spreading awareness in society, in addition to reviewing the most prominent initiatives offered by the Ministry to empower people with disabilities. The Saudi side reviewed its experience in the field of voluntary work, the mechanism of the Ministry's work and its role in linking with the approved channels to apply for volunteer work. For its part, the Bahraini delegation reviewed the experience of the Kingdom of Bahrain in establishing clubs and parental care homes, the services it provides to senior citizens, the mechanism of moral and material support provided by the Ministry for this category, and the efforts of the trained medical staff in providing medical care and sports practices in order to provide a healthy lifestyle for senior citizens. The delegation also reviewed successful experiences in the areas of social protection and empowerment of people with disabilities, in addition to programs for productive families, through field visits to centers of excellence for autism, the Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities, as well as the Center for Reporting Domestic Violence and Child Protection, in addition to visiting the Empowerment Clinic to see the mechanisms and types of support provided to empower poor and low-income families.