Kuwait Pledges Continued Support for Children’s Rights at U.N. Committee Meeting

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting and protecting children's rights and pledged its full support to the international community's initiatives in this regard. This statement was made by the Kuwaiti Permanent Delegation to the United Nations and was delivered by Diplomatic Attaché Raheeq Al-Abad during a speech at the Third Committee on Social Humanitarian and Culture Affair, which focuses on Article 67 concerning the promotion and protection of children's rights. According to Kuwait News Agency, Al-Abad highlighted the global challenges in providing a decent and safe life for children, including poverty, lack of education, and the basic healthcare needs, as well as the dangers of unsafe child labor. She reiterated Kuwait's dedication to safeguarding children's rights and their well-being, citing the significant legal framework provided by Law No. 21 of 2015 on children's rights in Kuwait, which ensures the basic rights of children. Al-Abad also pointed out Kuwait's high ranking in the 2023 Gallup International survey, where it was ranked second internationally for respecting children's rights. She mentioned that Kuwait ratified the Convention on the Rights of Child in 1991 and has made remarkable progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by cooperating with various organizations and bodies. Furthermore, Al-Abad expressed Kuwait's strong condemnation of the violations committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian and Lebanese children, describing them as clear violations of international children's rights treaties. She shed light on the severe conditions faced by children in the Gaza Strip, who endure a traumatic war that affects their entire lives, with many sustaining injuries, while others suffer from illness and malnutrition due to ongoing attacks. Kuwait reiterated its call for an immediate end to these violations and emphasized its ongoing commitment to supporting global efforts to enhance the protection and promotion of children's rights.