The Minister of Social Affairs and Community Development, Sheikh Firas Al-Sabah, has expressed his satisfaction with the recent agreement reached between the two authorities on the law regarding the rights of people with disabilities. He emphasized the importance of accelerating the disbursement of prosthetic devices to eligible individuals and announced the initiation of a tender for this purpose.
During the Council’s discussion of the report of the Committee for the Affairs of Persons with Disabilities, Sheikh Al-Sabah highlighted the significant improvements made in the draft law and proposals for amending certain provisions of Law 8/2010, which pertains to the rights of persons with disabilities. He stated, “The report includes several notable features of the law and expands the scope of beneficiaries, such as the children of Kuwaiti women and Kuwaiti mothers responsible for caring for disabled individuals. Our goal with this law is to address any deficiencies that existed in its previous form,” as reported by Al-Rai daily.
Sheikh Al-Sabah further mentioned that there are ongoing discussions regarding the challenges faced by the authority and an investigation committee has been established to review previous work and contracts. Cases suspected of harming public funds have also been referred to the prosecution. In terms of medical committees, he expressed his intention to collaborate with the head of the parliamentary committee to develop new mechanisms for forming these committees, ensuring greater transparency.
Highlighting the commitment of the state and society towards people with disabilities, Representative Saud Al-Asfour, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for People with Disabilities, emphasized the importance of the committee’s report on amending the existing law. He stated, “The law has been in effect for over 13 years, and practical implementation has revealed the need for amendments due to the negative consequences that have arisen.”
Al-Asfour further explained that the amendments primarily focus on education, employment, care, and protection. These changes were made after extensive discussions with specialists, public benefit associations, and government agencies to ensure that the law effectively empowers and supports people with disabilities.
MP Hani Shams, the committee’s Rapporteur, emphasized the significance of the law, as it directly impacts a group that holds great importance to society. He stated, “After 13 years, amendments have been made to address the evolving needs of people with disabilities, and additional amendments are expected to be introduced in the future, particularly concerning medical committees.”
Shams further elaborated on the recent amendments, which include the addition of two new categories to the law. These categories encompass Kuwaiti mothers caring for disabled non-Kuwaitis, who will now receive the same benefits as Kuwaiti mothers caring for disabled Kuwaitis. Additionally, Kuwaitis responsible for the care of disabled non-Kuwaitis, whether they are spouses or other family members, will also be eligible for support.
One significant change is the transfer of schools for people with disabilities from the Authority for People with Disabilities to the Ministry of Education. The role of the Authority will shift to supervision and oversight to ensure the quality of education provided and the commitment of these institutions to meeting the needs of students with disabilities.
These amendments reflect Kuwait’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the rights and support available to people with disabilities. By expanding the scope of beneficiaries, enhancing transparency, and improving the quality of education and care, Kuwait aims to create an inclusive society that empowers and supports all of its citizens.
Source: TimesKuwait
