KUWAIT: A number of participants in the 43rd edition of women's empowerment and capacity building conference, titled "Tamkeen", underlined Monday the need to provide more support to empower women in leading positions. Speaking in the conference held by the International Organization For Women's Empowerment And Capacity-Building, in cooperation with the Kuwaiti Union of Women's Associations, participants stressed the need to give women more opportunities to help them get more posts, especially given that the extent to which a society is developed is proportional to how involved women are in the workforce.
A panel discussion held as part of the two-day conference underscored the importance of enhancing achievements made by Kuwaiti women in different fields. In a speech, former Minister of Information Sami Al-Nisf called for supporting women in order to help them accomplish bigger goals and enable them to take on leadership positions to keep pace with the international community. Iqbal Al-Ahmad, a media personality, called for changing the stereotypical view of some people towards women, which confines women's role to being at home.
She considered that "men created this view because they enact laws and regulations that affect women and their ability to get leadership positions". Wafaa Al-Aradi, associate professor at Kuwait University, said women in some societies face systemic cultural and legislative barriers that prevent her from taking leadership positions. "Social support networks supporting women are different from those supporting men,” she said.
Mona Al-Arbash, member of Kuwait Bar Association's women and business committee, underscored the necessity of making legislative amendments to further the advancement of women and their participation in the labor market, referring to some "gaps in gender equality". Member of Tamkeen Salwa Al-Jassa pointed out what she considered "flaws" in how some laws are enforced when it comes to women empowerment. She added that the private sector could play a larger role in supporting them. Malak Al-Rashid, another professor at Kuwait University, said women can "enact change if they believe in themselves," calling for fostering an environment that supports innovative women. -- KUNA