Kuwait: Jasour – News Desk
Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Nasser Al-Hein, affirmed on Monday the steadfast commitment of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to empowering women and girls with special needs and promoting their rights in society.
This statement was made by Ambassador Al-Hein in his capacity as Chairman of the GCC Ambassadors’ Council during the interactive dialogue session with the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, held within the framework of the 58th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Al-Hein called for intensified international efforts to address the gaps that hinder achieving full equality for women and girls with special needs, explaining that “the factors of dual discrimination and the obstacles faced by women and girls with special needs prevent full equality and make them among the most vulnerable and marginalized groups despite the progress made internationally.”
He emphasized that the rights of persons with special needs are a priority for the GCC countries, highlighting the continuous efforts of GCC countries to develop legislative, technical, and financial means to ensure the full enjoyment of the rights of persons with special needs and to leverage economic, technological, and health advancements to better integrate them socially and economically.
He noted that all GCC countries have ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and have enacted national legislation and programs to promote their inclusion, with a particular focus on women and girls by removing all systemic barriers that impede their access to education, employment, healthcare, and social services.
Ambassador Al-Hein affirmed the “inclusive approach” adopted by the GCC countries to enhance the participation of women and girls with special needs in public life, taking on leadership roles, and participating in decision-making processes on a wider scale.
During the dialogue session, Al-Hein reviewed various initiatives and pioneering experiences undertaken by the GCC countries to empower women and girls with special needs, including leadership training programs, capacity building, financial resource allocation, and the launch of national and regional platforms and competitions to ensure their voices are heard and their presence is enhanced in various fields.
He explained that these initiatives have contributed to “Gulf women and girls assuming prominent positions in recent years, enabling them to actively contribute to cultural, political, and scientific fields at both national and international levels.”
Ambassador Al-Hein also referred to the adoption of the GCC (Unified Law for the Protection of Persons with Disabilities) in 2019, which aims to enhance the rights of this group and ensure their rights in all member states, removing obstacles, empowering them, and enhancing their contribution to community development.
He reaffirmed the GCC countries’ commitment to continuing their efforts in supporting and empowering women and girls with special needs and collaborating with the international community to promote their rights and achieve comprehensive development for them.
