Kuwait affirms keenness on bridging the generation gap

State moves to integrate disabled people in society

NEW YORK, Feb 16, (KUNA): Kuwait affirmed its keenness to seriously work on bridging the generation gap and integrating disabled people in the society.

As part of its commitment to the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, Kuwait is keen to activate the role of family in encouraging youngsters to connect with elders, a Kuwaiti official noted.

This can be done through organizing voluntary programs, boosting social interaction between state and nonstate institutions, establishing protocols, and adopting cooperation policies in accordance with the country’s strategic plan, said Dr Amani Al-Tabtabaee.

Affairs

Al-Tabtabaee, director of the elderly care department at the social affairs ministry, made her remarks while addressing participants of the 57th Session of the Commission for Social Development (CSocD57) at UN Headquarters in New York.

The Kuwaiti Constitution emphasizes all people are equal in human dignity, public rights, and duties before the law, and there shall be made no differentiation among them because of race, origin, language, or religion, she said.

Al-Tabtabaee also mentioned the Kuwaiti woman make up 50 percent of workforce in the country, and that Kuwait is currently one of the top-five Arab countries in gender equality, and one of the top-ten Arab states in UN’s Gender Inequality Index.

She also highlighted the country’s laws on disability, elderly, child, minors, retirement, and other affairs, reiterating Kuwait’s keenness to provide opportunities to all these categories and integrate them in the society.

Furthermore, Kuwait seeks to build healthy and friendly cities that are suitable for older, disabled, and young people, she said, noting her country has implemented inclusive social protection programs for families.

Crisis

These programs tends to improve the living and financial conditions of individuals who face social and economic crisis, Al-Tabtabaee said, noting they also include schemes to back and enhance skills such is the case of the “Own Effort” project, which aims to support low-income women entrepreneurs.

Moreover, Kuwait is one of the countries that is institutionally equipped with strategies and facilities designed to limit and reduce the effects of natural disasters, she said, adding no human or financial losses have been reported during the 2012-2016 period.

Kuwait’s participation in CSocD57 aims to support its agendas that address inequalities, and counter challenges to social inclusion through fiscal, wage, and social protection policies, said Al-Tabtabaee.

CSocD57 tackles a number of issues such as empowerment of people affected by natural and human-made disasters to reduce inequality, in addition to addressing the differential impact on persons with disabilities, older persons, and youth, she added.