KUWAIT: The National Committee for the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1,325 (Women, Peace, and Security) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a forum on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the resolution in cooperation with the Office of the United Nations Coordinator (UN) and the European Union Mission to Kuwait, with the participation of the ministries of interior, defense, justice, information, and public prosecution.
The forum, held at the UN House on Thursday, aims to highlight the distinguished achievements of Kuwaiti women in various fields and shed light on sectors that have witnessed development through increasing female participation. Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Duaij Al-Sabah said in a speech during the event that Kuwait has made remarkable progress in promoting the women, peace, and security agenda.
It established (in December 2023) the National Committee for Women, Peace, and Security, which is clear evidence of Kuwait’s continued commitment to the relentless pursuit to systematically and sustainably integrate women in all sectors. Sheikha Jawaher Al-Sabah added that in conjunction with this, Kuwait participates and cooperates with prestigious regional and international organizations such as ESCWA, UN Women, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to raise awareness and implement critical training programs on women’s rights.
She praised the pivotal role of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah in strengthening the strategic partnership with NATO and advancing it to new horizons. His recent speech on the 20th anniversary of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative demonstrated Kuwait’s commitment to international cooperation for peace and security.
Regarding the achievements of Kuwaiti women in various sectors, she indicated that the percentage of women’s participation in the police forces has increased to more than 900 women, in addition to the entry of 19 new women into the Kuwaiti National Guard, which is a historic achievement for Kuwait and the region. Also, women’s participation in the judiciary has also increased, with 19 female judges appointed in addition to four female directors of public prosecution offices, noting that Kuwaiti women’s contributions have expanded to include the diplomatic field as women constitute 22 percent of the diplomatic corps and serve in capitals and international organizations around the world.
Sheikha Jawaher Al-Sabah said, "We have made great progress, but much work remains, as women are the most affected by conflicts, as they face the highest rates of displacement, injury, and loss.” She urged the international community to renew its commitment to confronting future challenges, promoting gender equality, promoting peace, and ensuring that women’s voices are heard and valued in all aspects of decision-making.
For her part, the Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the country, Ghada Al-Tahir, praised Kuwait’s role, great commitment, and achievements in the women’s peace and security agenda, stressing that in a short period of time from the year 2021/2022 to 2023/2024, Kuwait’s ranking in the Women’s Peace and Security Index issued by the Georgetown Institute rose from 123rd to 61st globally.
Al-Tahir added that Kuwait has advanced ten points in the global gender gap, as Kuwait ranks third in the Arab world in the fields of women, peace, and security. She stressed that Kuwait has a leading role in the Arab region, the Gulf countries, and at the global level, referring to the speech of the representative of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, in which he encouraged countries to recommit to strengthening international peace and security during a speech at the Future Summit in New York.
In turn, the European Union Ambassador Anne Koistinen said in a similar speech that the Union places women, peace, and security agendas at the heart of its overall priorities for the common foreign and security policy, stressing that the agenda presented during the forum is an essential tool in ensuring respect for and protection of the rights of women and girls. — KUNA