Kuwait presented its 2nd periodic report on the situation of
the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The next
consolidated 3rd to 6th periodic report is expected by
November 2018. The Kuwaiti
delegation was composed of 19 members headed by
H.E. Dhara Abdul Razzak Razzooqi, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the
State of Kuwait in Geneva.
IBFAN presented an alternative report on the situation of infant and young
child feeding in Kuwait. The report, prepared by IBFAN Kuwait, shows that there
are very low exclusive breastfeeding rates. This is due to insufficient
coverage and low quality of antenatal education about breastfeeding management,
weak support for the baby-friendly hospital initiative (BFHI) as well as lack
of timely follow-up and competent support for mothers after hospital discharge.
Concerning maternity at work, the duration of maternity leave is shorter than
the ILO recommendation of 18 weeks, and women working in the informal sector do not enjoy the
same rights as those in the formal sector.
Discussion on health care
The delegation of Kuwait informed
the CRC Committee that particular attention was being paid to the social and
health aspects of the life of the child, which has led, among other things, to
reduce mortality rate. The government allocated a considerable budget to health
care.
The issue of breastfeeding and infant and young child feeding has not
been directly addressed in the dialogue between the CRC Committee and the
government delegation.
The Kuwaiti delegation also
specified that specialized centres had been established for HIV and AIDS tests and other sexually
transmitted diseases. To date, there is in Kuwait a very limited number of
HIV-positive cases thank to the effective programme established by the
Government.
Concluding
Observations
Kuwait did not
receive any direct recommendations on breastfeeding in the Concluding Observations of the CRC Committee.
However, the CRC Committee has addressed to Kuwait
recommendations on the impact of the business sector on child rights.
The CRC Committee recalled Kuwait the content of
the General Comment no. 16 (2013) on State obligations in regard to the importance of
the impact of the business sector on child rights. It recommended to Kuwait to establish and implement regulations in order to
ensure that the business sector respects the international and national human
rights and complies with labour, environment and specifically with children’s
rights.
The CRC Committee therefore recommended Kuwait to: “(a) Ensure effective implementation by companies,
especially industrial companies, of international and national environment and
health standards; set up effective monitoring of implementation of
these standards and appropriate sanctioning and providing remedies when
violations occur, as well as
ensure that appropriate international certification is sought; (b) Require
companies to undertake assessments, consultations, and full public disclosure
of the environmental, health-related and child rights impacts of their business
activities and their plans to address such impacts”.
The Committee also mentioned the importance of
respecting the environment in order not to contaminate water. It urged Kuwait to: “(c) Take immediate measures to relocate all
families and children subjected to pollution that endanger their life and
health status; and (d) Be guided by the United Nations “Protect, Respect
and Remedy” Framework, accepted unanimously in 2008 by the Human Rights
Council, while implementing these recommendations” (para 23-24).
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