Kuwait Times

Published Date: April 23, 2007

KUWAIT: Participants in the Conference on the "Kuwaiti Women in National Legislations" have recommended the preparation of a comprehensive national document to facilitate women participation in the country's development aspects under the sponsorship of the legislative and executive authorities as well as the civic society institutions.

At the conclusion of the one-day conference, organised by the National Assembly's women affairs committee, the participants demanded improvement of legislative performance, promotion of the existing legislations and completion of the legal system in an introduction for the rise of women's rights in the society.

The participants called for promotion of the intellectual national action and the practice and enhancement of civic society, which is responsible for development of the present situation of women.

The participants called on the legislative and executive authorities to abide by the principles of equal opportunity in drafting and implementing legislations, underlining significance of interpreting recommendations into working teams to truly activate the recommendations.

The participants, on women and social security, called for equality between married and single women in pension laws and other retirement laws, demanding drafting of laws to guarantee women pension privileges.

On women and housing, the participants stressed significance of equal economic, social and cultural rights inked in the international accord for economic, social and cultural rights of 1996 which Kuwait has signed.

The participants demanded an alteration for the concept of the Kuwaiti family and the need for the government sponsored housing care.

The participants recommended that Kuwaiti women married of a foreigner be entitled for the same rights enjoyed by Kuwaiti men, which include a government-sponsored housing care, home construction financial support of KD 70,000 and the rent allowance.

The participants recommended that divorced Kuwaiti women, widows and single are entitled for government houses.

On women's personal laws, the participants recommended new laws concerning women's marriage and divorce rights, demanding alteration of several law articles concerning allowances, family and social welfare.

The participants recommended that Kuwaiti judicial system make use of recommendations issued by the family consultative departments in the justice ministry.

On women's political rights, the participants urged for exchange of expertise between Kuwaiti women and Arab and international women organisation, calling for enhancement of role of women volunteer action and back up of government and public sector for women's political awareness. -- Kuna