Kuwait ... nation of equality - Al-Khaled to WPL summit in Iceland

BRUSSELS, Dec 1 (KUNA) -- Women in Kuwait have been agents of political, social, and economic change, through their active participation in the economy and in a free and open civil society, Kuwaiti Assistant Foreign Minister for the Americas Reem Al-Khaled said.
Speaking at the Women Political Leaders Global Forum (WPL) in Reykjavik (Iceland) on Thursday, she elaborated on the crucial role being played by women in the progress and development of Kuwait.
"Ever since its establishment, Kuwait has been a nation built on equality, the preservation of freedoms, and social and civil rights," she underlined.
Al-Khaled said that women in Kuwait were elected to the National Assembly and the Municipal Council, and appointed to a number of Ministerial posts.
"And one of the strategic goals of Kuwait's National Development plan is the empowerment of women in decision-making positions in the fields of economics, politics, and social issues," stressed the Kuwaiti diplomat.
She noted that there is a positive trend in women reaching leadership positions within the public sector. In 2010, women held only 7.6 percent of leadership positions below the level of Minister within the public sector, but that percentage has grown steadily and in 2014, women in the public sector held 23 percent of the leadership positions below the level of Minister.
In the education sector, there are more women than men enrolled in primary, secondary, and higher education in Kuwait. The State of Kuwait ranked highest in closing the gender gap in high school and university enrolment in the MENA Region, she said.
"And these young women excelling in their education today are the political, social, and economic leaders of tomorrow," said Al-Khaled.
In fact, the post of Minister of State for Planning and Development was held by a woman in the last three cabinets, which reflects the important role played by women in key decision-making at the highest levels, she said.
Kuwait's election as member of Commission on the Status of Women for the period from 2016-2020, is another example of our dedication to women's empowerment.
Women are active participants in the labor market, holding 46.5 percent of positions in the public sector, and 58.6 percent of positions in the private sector, and a 3.5 percent unemployment rate as of 2015, she stressed.
Kuwaiti law guarantees equal pay for equal work, and prohibits discrimination in wages on the basis of gender.
She stated Kuwait has also been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the period of 2018-2019, and is dedicated to advancing the causes of peace and security around the world.
"Among Kuwait's priorities during our membership is the peaceful resolution of conflicts, which is a founding tenet of Kuwait's foreign policy. Kuwait's commitment to the maintenance of peace has also led to it undertaking a number of mediating roles on the international stage, at the request of parties involved," said Al-Khaled.
In this same spirit, Kuwait supports the involvement of women in mediation efforts and in the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts, added the Kuwaiti diplomat.
Over 300 women parliamentarians and other senior politicians from nearly 100 countries attended the 2-day forum, which ended Thursday night. The Counsellor at the Kuwaiti embassy in Brussels, Fahad Al-Jaimaz also attended the Forum.
The Women Political Leaders Global Forum (WPL) is the global network of female politicians. The mission of WPL is to increase both the number and the influence of women in political leadership. It is an independent, international, and not-for-profit foundation based in Reykjavik, Iceland. (end) nk.gta