NEW YORK, March 12: Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs Dr. Amthal Al-Huwailah emphasized Kuwait's commitment to empowering women across various fields through the development of social protection policies designed to ensure justice and enhance economic opportunities.

Al-Huwailah delivered her remarks at a ministerial meeting titled "From the Beijing Declaration after 30 years to the Second World Summit for Social Development: Accelerating Women's Empowerment through Social Protection". The event, held on the sidelines of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations, saw the participation of representatives from several countries and international organizations. The discussions centered on ways to improve social policies and strengthen economic and social protection for women.

Opening her speech, Al-Huwailah congratulated all participants on the occasion of International Women's Day, noting that the meeting offered a valuable opportunity to strengthen international cooperation to support women. She emphasized the importance of accelerating efforts to empower women and enhance their contributions to sustainable development.

Al-Huwailah highlighted that social protection is a critical tool in promoting social and economic stability, reducing social gaps, and supporting women's economic independence. She pointed out that Kuwait has been proactive in developing social security systems that specifically target women, in alignment with the government's work program for the period 2024-2027.

The Minister detailed Kuwait's efforts to provide social assistance to more than 49,915 families, benefiting over 56,834 citizens. This includes financial support under Law No. (12) of 2011 for families facing financial difficulties, covering housewives, the elderly, divorcees, widows, unmarried women, families of prisoners, married women with undetermined nationalities, and those eligible for rent allowances as per Law No. (6) of 2022.

Al-Huwailah also underscored Kuwait's advancements in social protection, particularly in the digitization of social records. This initiative has helped improve the efficiency of assistance distribution, minimize administrative complications, and ensure that support reaches those most in need.

She stressed that these efforts reflect Kuwait's unwavering commitment to empowering women not just through economic opportunities, but by fostering a supportive legal and social environment that guarantees their rights and enhances their role in national development.

The Minister further noted the ongoing efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to empower women, particularly through the Joint Gulf Action Strategy for Women's Affairs 2024-2030. This strategy aims to increase women's participation in the economy and society, ensure equal opportunities, and create a secure legislative environment that allows women to fulfill their roles effectively. Al-Huwailah explained that the strategy is based on principles of justice, sustainability, and competitiveness, aiming to integrate women into all development sectors and enhance their leadership in the economic and technological fields.

She also commended the efforts of Qatar in hosting the upcoming Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled for November in Doha. Al-Huwailah considered the summit an important opportunity to boost international efforts for comprehensive social development and accelerate the implementation of goals related to social protection. Kuwait fully supports this summit, recognizing its importance in promoting social policies that foster social and economic justice.

In the face of global economic challenges, Al-Huwailah emphasized the urgent need for reforming the global debt structure to prevent economic crises from further hindering women’s empowerment and obstructing the achievement of sustainable development goals. She highlighted that many developing countries struggle to finance social programs for women and stressed the need for international financial and technical support to ensure that social protection goals are met.

Concluding her speech, Al-Huwailah affirmed that empowering women is not only a human rights obligation but also an investment in the future and sustainability of societies. She underscored that women are key drivers of economic and social stability and play an essential role in promoting sustainable development. Al-Huwailah reiterated Kuwait's commitment to supporting regional and international initiatives aimed at achieving gender equality and empowering women in all sectors.

She concluded by reaffirming Kuwait's dedication to advancing social policies that promote social justice and empower women to access economic and social opportunities, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.