KUWAIT: Rehab Boresli, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Kuwaiti Association for Parents of Persons with Disabilities, was elected Second Vice President of the Arab Organization for Persons with Disabilities for the 2025-2028 term. The election took place during the seventh general conference of the organization, held in Cairo, with the presence of the executive office, the Board of Commissioners, and the General Assembly.
Boresli expressed her pride and gratitude for the trust placed in her by the General Assembly members. She emphasized that this role would increase her responsibility to further the organization’s mission, particularly in addressing challenges faced by people with disabilities in the region. Her goal is to promote the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and raise awareness to help achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals related to disability.
She also praised the organization’s efforts since its inception in 1998, noting the significant impact of its projects, initiatives, workshops, and training courses aimed at improving the quality of life for persons with disabilities.
The conference opened with a regional symposium focused on the safety and security of persons with disabilities in conflicts, emergencies, and natural disasters. About 50 participants from disability organizations across Arab countries, along with various stakeholders, attended the symposium. The new executive office for the period 2025-2028 includes Dr. Nawaf Kabbara as President, Muwaffaq Taqtab Al-Khafaji as First Vice President, Rehab Boresli as Second Vice President, Abdelmajid Mekni as Secretary, Yasser Mohamed Moussa as Treasurer, and Abdullah Bunyan as Public Relations and Media Officer.
The executive office will also include a representative for women with disabilities, who will be elected later by the Women’s Forum. Additionally, two members from the International Monitoring Committee for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will be part of the new executive office.
A renowned Kuwaiti human rights activist, Boresli was honored with the prestigious "Pioneering” medal for her contributions to improving the lives of people with disabilities in 2024. The award was presented at the 4th International Conference on Quality of Life Research for People with Disabilities in Saudi Arabia, organized by the Unaizah Association for Development and Humanitarian Services - Rehabilitation, in collaboration with experts from University College London and Imperial College London. The recognition acknowledges Boresli’s contributions at both local and international levels, including her work as a UN expert and her leadership in the Kuwaiti Association for the Parents of Disabled Persons.