KUWAIT: Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al- Jarallah speaks during the symposium. —Photo by Yasser Al-Zayyat

KUWAIT: The Saud Nasser Al-Sabah Kuwait Diplomatic Institute held a symposium yesterday on adopting the child rights' law no. 21/2015, during which experts from various institutions spoke about children's rights. Khaled Al-Jarallah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the Kuwaiti constitution enshrined the rights of children in its articles 9 and 10, which the law 21/2015 later specified.

"Kuwait has ratified many conventions on child rights, out of which the most significant one is the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its two protocols, which became part of the national law. This law includes 97 articles that provide complete protection to children in all aspects including health, social education, cultural and legal, in addition to the disabled," Jarallah pointed out.

According to him, Kuwait is a leading country in childcare and in adopting child laws. "The constitution and other laws secure the protection of children to assure a suitable environment for their upbringing. Kuwait is developed in this field through local laws and international conventions. This symposium raises social awareness about this law," he said.

Jarallah also spoke about the four Kuwaitis who were freed by Iran this week. "Kuwaiti diplomacy played an essential role in releasing the four who were arrested in Iran. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs worked on this case through its embassy in Tehran and the Iranian Embassy in Kuwait. I would like to thank Iran for its cooperation. It also allowed us to meet the arrested citizens and simplify the procedures of their release," Jarallah said after the symposium.

Regarding security protection of the Russian ambassador, he noted that protection is provided to all diplomats. "Kuwait has denounced the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Ankara. This act is against diplomatic norms and Islamic principles, and is unacceptable," Jarallah said.

Many specialists spoke during the symposium, including Amal Al-Dosari, Deputy of the International Committee for Child Rights at the United Nations, Dr Siham Al-Fraih, Head of the National Society for Child Protection, Dr Mona Al-Khawari, Head of the Child Protection Department at the Ministry of Health, and Consultant Dr Adel Al-Failakawi, Undersecretary of the Appeals Court.

By Nawara Fattahova