Kuwait city: Kuwait reaffirmed that human dignity has always been a cornerstone of its national and international approach, guided by a Constitution that upholds justice, equality, and freedom as the basis of governance. This was emphasized in a statement delivered by Second Secretary of Kuwait's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Wafiqah Al-Mulla, during the Third Committee's general discussions on Tuesday, highlighting national efforts to empower women, youth, children, and the elderly.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Al-Mulla noted that women comprise 58 percent of the workforce and 28 percent of leadership roles in the country, with increasing participation in the judiciary, police, and military. These advancements are supported by national committees such as the Women and Business Committee and the National Committee for implementing UNSC Resolution 1325. Furthermore, on the matter of child protection, she mentioned that Kuwait established the Supreme National Committee for Child Protection, launched a child support hotline 147, and enhanced mechanisms for reporting and responding to violence.
For the elderly, Kuwait provides comprehensive welfare programs, benefiting more than 36,000 individuals with free healthcare and priority services. Al-Mulla also highlighted Kuwait's ranking of 40th in the 2023 Youth Development Index and the introduction of the Youth Excellence and Creativity Award, which recognizes the achievements of young Kuwaitis who have gained global recognition, including through the UNESCO-Jaber Al-Ahmad Prize.
Efforts to combat domestic violence were also addressed by Al-Mulla, who mentioned the establishment of a national committee, the availability of shelters, and hosting over 150 awareness workshops. The diplomat reiterated Kuwait's support for global efforts on social development and its participation in the upcoming World Social Summit in Doha this November.
In her concluding remarks, Al-Mulla condemned the ongoing Israeli occupation's violations against the Palestinian people and reaffirmed Kuwait's support for a two-state solution, advocating for the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.