KUWAIT PRESENTS REPORT TO COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD

MORNING
HR/CRC/98/48
28 September 1998




The Committee on the Rights of the Child this morning started its consideration of the initial report of the Government of Kuwait on its efforts to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Dharar A.R. Razzooqi, Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations Office at Geneva, introduced the report, saying that Kuwaiti children captured during Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait had grown up but still languished in Iraqi prisons.

Committee experts queried the delegation of Kuwait on such issues as the dissemination of the Convention; the role of non-governmental organizations; the role of the media in changing the population’s attitude on children; and rights of children of migrant workers.

The delegation of Kuwait also included Nawal Al-Sallal, Director of the Department of Women and Child Affairs at the Ministry of Social Welfare and Labour; Muna Al-Sallal, Supervisor on Kindergarten Affairs at the Ministry of Education; Hussain Al-Anzi, Paediatric Consultant at the Ministry of Health; Adel Al-Jassam, Third Secretary at Permanent Mission of Kuwait to UNOG; and Aïsha Al-Adsani, Attaché at the Mission.

As one of 191 States parties to the Convention, Kuwait is required to submit periodic reports to the Committee on how it is complying with the provisions of the treaty.

The Committee will reconvene at 3 p.m. to continue its consideration of the report from the Government of Kuwait.

Report of Kuwait

The initial report of Kuwait (document CRC/C/8/Add.35) reviews the efforts of the Government in promoting the Convention on an article-by-article basis. It says that the Government has amended national legislation in a manner consistent with the provisions of the Convention. The Government has also adopted measures aimed at promoting and protecting children's rights.

The report says that the State is currently in the final stages of drafting a disabled persons act which will be the starting point for more extensive dealings with all bodies concerned with the disabled.

In addition, the report says that the five-year development plan for the period 1990-1995 aims to improve the standard of all types of social services to meet the needs of individuals and families. It also aims to improve material and moral conditions, and endeavours to safeguard public health and promote awareness of the importance of maintaining a healthy diet.

The authorities are also currently studying the possibility of concluding bilateral agreements with some States on the issue of foster children and their transfer across international frontiers, says the report.

Introduction of Report

DHARAR A.R. RAZZOOQI, Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations Office at Geneva, introduced his country's report, saying that Kuwait attached great importance to children and their healthy development. Care for children and their learning process was vital to the Government which paid special attention to their general well-being.

The State of Kuwait had enacted legislation that ensured the importance of the family as the centre for the psychological growth and development of the child, Mr.Razzooqi went on to state. In addition, the Government had set up various institutions which promoted and protected the rights of families and children.

Kuwaiti children had suffered from the negative impact of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, Mr. Razzooqi noted. Children who were victimized had difficulties in explaining their experience and at times became violent. The international community should support Kuwait’s efforts to heal the psychological damage inflicted on these children.

Kuwait was invaded by Iraq in 1990 and this led to the Gulf War, Mr. Razzooqi said, adding that the invasion and the armed conflict had caused loss to many lives and damage to property, infrastructure, and the environment.

Mr. Razzooqi further said that many Kuwaiti children still remained prisoners in Iraqi prisoners. They had grown up in prisons and still languished there with no news on their exact whereabouts. Also, Kuwaiti children were victims of landmines planted by the Iraqi invading forces in Kuwait. Iraq was flagrantly violating international human rights by holding Kuwaiti children and fathers of other children in its prisons.

Furthermore, Mr. Razzooqi said that Iraq had failed to respect its international commitments and comply with the Security Council and other relevant United Nations resolutions pertaining to Kuwaiti prisoners still held in Iraq.

Discussion

In response to written questions prepared by Committee members in advance, the delegation said the State's child-care development plans aimed at promoting the proper upbringing of children of pre-school age and encouraging the enrolment of all children in kindergartens, with special emphasis on broadening the child's mental faculties and strengthening the role of the family. In addition, it was aimed at promoting and maintaining a healthy environment and protecting it from deterioration and pollution.

The Parliamentary Committee for the Defence of Human Rights overlooked the activities of the Government regarding the promotion and protection of children's rights, the delegation said. The Committee also served as a watchdog and received complaints of human rights violations from any Kuwaitis or non-Kuwaitis. In addition, the Human Rights Unit in the Ministry of Justice was concerned with violations of rights in general and those of children in particular.

Committee experts also raised questions on the dissemination of the Convention; the role of non-governmental organizations; the role of the media in changing the attitude of the population on children; and rights of children of migrant workers, among other things.

In response to questions raised by the experts, the delegation admitted that much still remained to be done for the full implementation of the provisions of the Convention. However, the Government had been making all efforts to fulfill its international obligations.

The delegation noted that Kuwait was organizing an “Arab Day for Children of Kuwait” in which all children participated. The day would be an opportunity for children to further understand their rights and for parents to assume their role as promoters and protectors of the rights of children.

There was no distinction between the rights of Kuwaitis and non-nationals in terms of social benefits, the members of the delegation said. Education and health facilities were provided free-of-charge in Kuwait. All children, whether nationals or non-nationals, enjoyed the same rights and were treated equally by the Kuwaiti authorities. Out of the population of 1.7 million, 35 per cent were foreigners, said the delegation.

Kuwait's society was based on justice and equality. It strongly rejected all forms of discrimination and made no distinction between men, women and children with regard to their right to enjoy all rights under the Constitution, the delegation said. In Kuwaiti legislation, the best interest of the child was a primary consideration, particularly in matters directly concerning children.

With regard to placing children in institutions, the delegation said that children's homes were established to provide care and shelter for children of families that had broken up because of death or divorce. It provided children with temporary accommodation, as well as health, psychological, social, educational and cultural care until their family circumstances improved.