The Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwaila, affirmed today, Tuesday, the State of Kuwait's commitment to enhancing the role of women and empowering them in various fields by developing social protection policies that ensure justice and promote economic opportunities.  

This came during a speech delivered by Al-Huwaila 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,"* held on the sidelines of the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. The meeting was attended by representatives from several countries and international organizations to discuss ways to develop social policies and enhance economic and social protection for women.  

At the beginning of her speech, Al-Huwaila congratulated all participants on the occasion of International Women's Day, noting that this meeting represents an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation to support women, accelerate efforts to empower them, and enhance their contribution to sustainable development.  

Al-Huwaila explained that social protection is a fundamental tool for promoting social and economic stability and contributes to reducing social gaps and supporting women's economic independence. She pointed out that Kuwait is keen to develop social security systems targeting women and enhancing their opportunities in all fields, in line with the government’s work program for the period 2024-2027.  

She noted that the Ministry provides social assistance to more than 49,915 families, benefiting over 56,834 citizens, in addition to financial support granted under Law No. (12) of 2011 to families facing financial difficulties. This includes housewives, the elderly, divorcees, widows, unmarried women, families of prisoners, women married to non-Kuwaitis, and those eligible for housing allowances under Law No. (6) of 2022.  

She added that Kuwait has worked to develop social protection systems by digitizing social records to ensure improved efficiency in delivering assistance, reducing administrative complexities, and ensuring that support reaches the most vulnerable groups.  

Al-Huwaila emphasized that these efforts reflect Kuwait's commitment to empowering women not only through economic opportunities but also through a supportive legal and social environment that guarantees their rights and enhances their role in development.  

She also highlighted that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries continue their efforts to support women through the *"Gulf Joint Action Strategy for Women's Affairs 2024-2030,"* which aims to enhance women's participation in the economy and society, ensure equal opportunities, and provide a safe legislative and legal environment that enables them to perform their roles effectively.  

Al-Huwaila explained that this strategy is based on the principles of justice, sustainability, and competitiveness to ensure the inclusion of women in all developmental sectors and enhance their leadership in economic and technological fields.  

She praised the efforts of sisterly State of Qatar in hosting the Second World Summit for Social Development, scheduled to be held in Doha next November, considering it an important opportunity to strengthen international efforts in achieving comprehensive social development and accelerating the implementation of developmental goals related to social protection.  

Al-Huwaila affirmed Kuwait's full support for this summit due to its importance in promoting social policies and ensuring social and economic justice. She noted that such events enhance international partnerships and contribute to developing more effective strategies to support women and vulnerable groups.  

Amid global economic challenges, rising poverty, and unemployment rates, Al-Huwaila stressed the importance of reforming the global debt structure to ensure that economic crises do not worsen, hindering women's empowerment and limiting the achievement of sustainable development goals.  

She warned that many developing countries face difficulties in financing social programs for women, necessitating international action to provide financial and technical support to ensure the achievement of social protection goals.  

Al-Huwaila emphasized that empowering women is not just a rights-based commitment but an investment in the future and sustainability of societies. She noted that women are a driving force toward achieving economic and social stability and promoting sustainable development.  

She commended global efforts to enhance women's role in sustainable development, affirming that Kuwait will continue to support regional and international initiatives that contribute to achieving equality and empowering women in various fields.  

Al-Huwaila concluded her speech by reaffirming Kuwait's commitment to supporting social policies that achieve social justice and enable women to access all economic and social opportunities, in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development Vision.