NEW YORK: Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs Sheikh Feras Saud Al-Malik Al-Sabah said the Kuwaiti women played a central role in the development and protection of society at times of peace and war. In his address to the 68th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women at the UN General Assembly Hall on Wednesday, Sheikh Feras said the Kuwaiti woman proved to be influential in all aspects of life thanks to the care and protection she enjoys under the constitution of Kuwait.
"The constitution recognizes the important role of women in social, economic, and political development and bans all forms of discrimination against women.” Laying the basic principles of freedom, justice, and equality for society, the constitution provides against discrimination based on gender, religious, or linguistic considerations,” the minister pointed out. Kuwait, out of belief in these constitutional principles, has always been keen on empowering women in the political, economic, social, artistic, and sports areas through the adoption of relevant legislation and joining UN conventions.
Kuwait has advanced by 10 positions on the Global Gender Gap Index 2023 of the World Economic Forum, which benchmarks the national gender gaps on economic, political, education, and health-based criteria, Sheikh Feras went on. "Kuwait has also advanced from 123rd to 61st ranking on the Women Peace and Security Index (WPS Index) of Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace, and Security, which signals the political, economic, and social environments conducive to women’s empowerment in the country.
"Women in Kuwait now account for 41 percent of the leading positions at the Central Bank of Kuwait, 26 percent of the leading positions in the banking sector, and 35 percent of the workforce at Kuwaiti banks,” he added. The legislation in Kuwait provides for the protection of women against violence, the minister noted, praising the partnership between the Kuwaiti government and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in this effort to improve the status of women.
Confronting injustice
Kuwait’s Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs, Sheikh Feras Saud Al-Malik Al-Sabah, expressed his pride in the resilient model of the Palestinian woman, resisting all forms of injustice, persecution, and aggression. In light of attending the 68th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, Minister Al-Sabah said in a statement to KUNA that Palestinian women pay the price for an unjust aggression that killed tens of thousands of their children.
The minister added that despite the war in Gaza, the Palestinian woman remains steadfast, commending her on her unwavering model with pride and appreciation. He noted that establishing the National Committee for Women, Peace, and Security comes as proof of Kuwait’s belief in the priority and concern of women’s issues in the work of the United Nations. He added that the committee is keen on developing a coordinated plan between state bodies to implement the United Nations Security Council resolution (1325) on women, peace, and security.
Kuwait-ESCWA partnership
In another development, Sheikh Feras met the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, Rola Dashti, on Wednesday to discuss the partnership between Kuwait and the ESCWA. The meeting took place at Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the UN on the sidelines of the 68th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. The discussions dealt with issues of common concern, including the project to assess the economic cost of violence against women, the social protection project, and the efforts to improve Kuwait’s record.
Sheikh Feras, who leads Kuwait’s delegation to the ongoing session of the UN Commission, praised the ESCWA’s cooperation in sharing information with Kuwait and serving their common interests. He noted that his ministry and the Supreme Council of Family Affairs work together to provide social protection for women and empower them economically. The Ministry and the Council encourage women to engage in microenterprises and provide them with the necessary production requirements, he pointed out.
On her part, Dashti underscored the significance of cooperation with both government bodies to improve the efficacy of the labor market and build the capacity of female workers. On a separate occasion, Sheikh Feras hosted Algerian Minister of National Solidarity, Family, and Women’s Affairs Kaouthar Krikou, who leads her country’s delegation to the session of the UN Commission. They discussed the prospects of cooperation in social affairs, with an emphasis on efforts to improve the status of women. — KUNA