Kuwait presents its efforts for child rights at UN

The State of Kuwait has established bodies and enacted laws for protecting children against abuse, maintaining their good health and ensuring their social and health and educational rights, said Kuwait's permanent Representative in the UN in Geneva Ambassador Dherar Razzougi. The Gulf country has established national bodies and councils for protection of child rights, namely the Higher Commission for Human Rights, founded in 2008, the Supreme Council for Family Affairs, established in 2005, the Women Affairs Committee, established in 2002, the department for tackling illegal residents' affairs (2010), in addition to support to a long chain of associations specialized in children rights and issues. Ambassador Al-Razzouqi, addressing a session of the UN Committee on the Rights of Child, indicated at establishment of a series of other entities such as the human rights diwan, a supreme council for legal protection of the child against abuse, in line with pledges that had been made by Kuwait to the international community at this level. He also hinted at an integrated law that regulates children social, health and educational rights and issues. Moreover, the State is keen on securing health services for children for free, with aim of minimizing death rates, he said, also alluding to the compulsory educational system. Kuwait's Law (3/1983) considers juvenile delinquents as victims of extraordinary social circumstances, thus special legislations have been enacted for their psychological and social rehabilitation, and other laws sanction tough penalties for child abuse. In addition to the special laws for child protection, the State of Kuwait has helped in setting up special associations for sound upbringing of the children, particularly those in dire need for support. Child labor does not exist in Kuwait and labor laws prohibit employment of children aged below 15. Those aged 15 and 18 cannot be hired to work in dangerous or harmful crafts. Concerning children of special needs, Kuwait has recently joined the international Convention on Rights of Children with Disability and enacted relevant domestic laws. The authorities, since 1985, have sought to regulate status of the illegal residents, collecting data and figures about and working out plans to secure their humanitarian, health and teaching needs, and a special apparatus was established in 20120 to tackle their affairs. In 2011, the cabinet endorsed their rights for medical treatment, free education, issuance of personal papers such as certificates of birth, driving licenses as well as providing special services for the disabled and involving them in social and cultural activities. The 1962 Kuwait Constitution affirms the child rights through the family and mother preservation and protection