Amir congrats Al-Harbi as new ‘ALECSO’ chief
Women’s rights ensured
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 1, (KUNA): His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah addressed a cable to Dr Saud Hilal AlHarbi, congratulating him on his election as General Director of the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).
His Highness the Amir in the cable said Al-Harbi’s election “is a source of pride for every body and constitutes yet a new manifestation of the State of Kuwait’s high international status as well as its role in various quarters, Arab, regional and international organizations.” Their Highnesses the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister, respectively Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah sent cables of similar content to Dr Al-Harbi.
Meanwhile, Kuwait makes crucial steps towards ensuring women’s rights over many aspects thus achieving one of the country’s development goals, a Kuwaiti official tasked with women’s affairs said on Sunday.
Kuwaiti women have received many rights, particularly the right to run for parliament, said Buthaina Al-Mudhaf, the Kuwaiti Cabinet Coordinator for Women’s Affairs and representative to an Arab conference discussing the matter.
The Arab Women’s Conference was held at the Arab League headquarters in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Women, the UN children’s agency (UNICEF) and the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights.
The country has established many laws that support women, in their right to education and healthcare for instance, while the Kuwaiti constitution ensures equal rights for nationals regardless of their gender, she added.
“Kuwait continuously aims to develop legislation aimed at women,” she said, noting to recent amendments to a law for government housing subsidies granted to nationals, which provides further rights for women.
Furthermore, Kuwait grants citizenship to the children of Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaitis who are divorced or widowed or the wives of POWs, she said at the conference, which focused on laws governing citizenship by right of birth.
And, the Arab League on Sunday said that it was imperative to introduce legislation granting displaced children and refugees proper identification at birth, which would ensure their socio-economic rights.
The remarks were made by the regional bloc’s assistant secretary general ambassador Bader Al-Din Allali, as he addressed an Arab conference dealing with women’s rights and equality in obtaining identification.
The Arab envoy, who is in charge of the organization’s social affairs, noted that no effort should be spared in order to protect children and ensure that all kids are given birth certificates and legal identification.