BEIRUT: Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs, Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah, affirmed on Tuesday Kuwait’s commitment to the provisions of the Arab Charter on Human Rights and the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Her remarks came during the opening of a regional conference organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in Beirut under the theme “Building Inclusive Employment and Entrepreneurship Systems in the Arab Region: Challenges and Solutions.”

Ambassador Al-Sabah highlighted the importance of the conference in empowering persons with disabilities across the Arab region, promoting their integration into the labor market, and sharing best practices in employment. She also underscored the launch of the Arab Charter for the integration of persons with disabilities into employment and entrepreneurship, which aims to strengthen partnerships between public and private sectors.

She stressed that Article 27 of the CRPD guarantees the right of persons with disabilities to work on an equal basis with others, providing necessary employment services, vocational guidance, and support to secure suitable job opportunities. At the national level, she noted that Article 14 of Kuwait’s Law No (8/2010) requires all government, private, and civil society institutions to implement inclusive employment policies at a minimum rate of four percent, in line with Kuwait’s development vision, the Sustainable Development Goals 2035, and the government’s 2024-2027 program.

Ambassador Al-Sabah highlighted Kuwait’s notable achievements in the field, including the establishment of the National Committee to monitor CRPD implementation, approved by Cabinet decision in April 2025. She also cited the issuance of the Kuwait Code for accessibility in February 2025, designed to transform existing buildings into inclusive environments, and the Kuwait Disability Guide 2025, which ensures standardized assessment and diagnosis of disabilities in line with World Health Organization standards.

Rehab Boursali

Ambassador Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah

She added that amendments approved by the Municipal Council now require the hotel sector to allocate 25 percent of hotel units to persons with disabilities, supporting their inclusion in the tourism and hospitality industry. Ambassador Al-Sabah also highlighted the ongoing Partners in Their Employment campaign, in cooperation with the UN, civil society, the private sector, and Kuwait University, which has, over five years, trained 381 individuals, allocated 242 job positions, and facilitated the employment of 79 in the public sector and 163 in the private sector.

The Assistant Foreign Minister stressed that functional integration in state institutions remains a priority, with government employment of persons with disabilities at 79 percent, the private sector at 8.5 percent, and the oil sector at 2.38 percent. She emphasized that promoting the rights of persons with disabilities requires preparing institutions and individuals to embrace their presence as genuine partners, not merely beneficiaries. On the sidelines of the conference, Ambassador Al-Sabah met with ESCWA Executive Secretary Dr Rola Dashti to discuss enhancing cooperation and sharing expertise in human rights.

In her opening remarks, Mehrinaz El Awadhi, Acting Deputy Executive Secretary for Programs at ESCWA, noted that economic empowerment of persons with disabilities is both a human rights issue and a driver of development, emphasizing that exclusion represents a loss of individual and national potential. Ruba Jaradat, ILO Regional Director for Arab States, highlighted that persons with disabilities constitute 15 percent of the global population, 80 percent of whom are of working age, yet they face significant barriers to employment. Lebanese Minister of Labor Mohammad Haidar stressed that inclusive employment and entrepreneurship systems add value to the labor market, promote equality, and foster dignity, productivity, and participation.

Earlier on Tuesday, ESCWA, in partnership with the ILO and the League of Arab States, launched the Arab Charter for the Integration of Persons with Disabilities in Employment and Entrepreneurship, serving as a collective declaration to promote inclusive employment in the Arab region. The second session of the conference focused on inclusive workplaces, sharing private sector experiences and addressing challenges faced by entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises. On Wednesday, the event will host the 11th meetings of the Intersessional Expert Working Group on Disability and the Expert Group on Reforming Social Protection Systems, a closed session for relevant government focal points.— KUNA

ANKARA: Kuwaiti Ambassador to Turkey Abdulaziz Al-Adwani affirmed that relations between Kuwait and Turkey have remained close, dynamic and deeply rooted since their establishment six decades ago, characterized by shared visions and common interests across various fields. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on the occasion of the upcoming visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Kuwait, Ambassador Al-Adwani said the visit reflects the continued commitment of both countries to strengthen cooperation and mutual understanding. He noted that the visit follows the official trip made by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to Turkey in May last year, underscoring the steady exchange of high-level visits that reinforce bilateral relations.

Al-Adwani stressed that the sustained diplomatic engagement between the two nations — which celebrated the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties last year — demonstrates their shared desire to deepen political, economic, and development partnerships. He praised Turkey’s steadfast support for international legitimacy and its historic stance alongside Kuwait during the 1990 Iraqi invasion, as well as the significant growth in economic cooperation since 2000.

The ambassador highlighted ongoing coordination between Kuwait and Turkey on regional and international issues through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Gulf-Turkey Cooperation Council, in addition to frequent exchanges between senior officials aimed at boosting cooperation in multiple sectors. He also commended the two countries’ mutual support in times of crisis, noting that Turkey provided medical assistance to Kuwait during the COVID-19 pandemic, while Kuwait swiftly extended aid to Turkey following the devastating earthquakes in 2023.

Al-Adwani recalled the directives of the late Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may his soul rest in peace, to establish an air bridge to deliver urgent humanitarian aid, including rescue teams and medical crews, to assist earthquake victims in Turkey. He noted that His Highness also ordered a $30 million donation to support those affected in Turkey and Syria, with the total value of government and public contributions reaching $97.7 million.

The ambassador further highlighted the longstanding partnership between Turkey and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), which provided its first loan to Turkey in 1979 to finance an electricity transmission project across the Bosphorus Strait — marking Kuwait’s first financing initiative in the country. Since then, cooperation has expanded to include energy, water, sanitation, transport, and communications projects. He added that in 2016, the Fund signed an agreement with Turkey to provide a $20 million grant in support of the Syrian refugee response plan, particularly in the health and education sectors, as part of Kuwait’s $500 million pledge during the Third Donors’ Conference in 2015.

Ambassador Al-Adwani emphasized that President Erdogan’s visit to Kuwait represents a continuation of the strong and brotherly relations between the two friendly nations, rooted in mutual respect and shared humanitarian and political principles aimed at promoting peace and prosperity. President Erdogan and his accompanying delegation arrived in Kuwait on Tuesday on an official visit during which he held talks with His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The visit forms part of a Gulf tour that also includes Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman, taking place from October 21 to 23 at the invitation of the leaders of the three countries. — KUNA

KUWAIT: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Kuwait on Tuesday on an official visit. He was received at the airport by His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and other senior state officials.

Also present were His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Chief of the Kuwait National Guard (KNG) Sheikh Mubarak Al-Humoud Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yusuf Saud Al-Sabah, Minister of the Amiri Diwan Affairs Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al-Ali Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Shereeda Al-Mousherji, Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya and senior state officials. The Head of the honorary delegation accompanying President Erdogan will be Minister of Defense Sheikh Abdullah Ali Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

President Erdogan’s delegation includes Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Economy and Finance Mehmet Simsek, Minister of Defense Yasar Guler, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Kacir, Minister of Trade Omer Bolat and other senior officials.