Introduction

Pursuant to the ninth paragraph of “Article Two” of the Amiri Decree, issued on 7 January 1979 on the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), as the MOJ shall be competent in “9- cooperation with Arab, Islamic and foreign countries and organizations regarding legal and judicial fields”,

“The Department of International Relations” has been created, pursuant to the Ministerial Decree No. 185/1994, to expand the activity of the previously created “Office of International Relations”, created under the Ministerial Decree No.70 of 1992. The Department assumes a very important role in organizing the MOJ’s affairs related to Kuwait's foreign relations and activities on legal and judicial matters, locally and internationally.

On local level, the Department consolidates MOJ’s relation, through performing legal affairs with other concerned agencies of the State of Kuwait, particularly with “National Assembly” (the Parliament), “Supreme Judicial Council”, “Public Prosecution”, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Affairs, Department of Fatwa& Legislation, and University of Kuwait…etc.

On international level, the Department is deemed MOJ’s window on the international community, through preparing and concluding bilateral and collective legal and judicial cooperation agreements, and all the activities of MOJ including cooperation with the international governmental and non-governmental organizations, in handling cases of human rights and international matters. Thus, the Department is considered an indispensable department to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in performing its legal activities at international congregations, in particular within the framework of United Nations (UN), Arab League, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).