A/HRC/15/15 assuming decision-making positions in the country, and women had been appointed as ministers, ambassadors, military police and managers in various ministries. 63. The rights of persons with disabilities were covered by the Constitution, and Kuwait had established a legal umbrella for their protection, which was reviewed and updated to ensure that it was in line with the most advanced legislation as well as international standards. Law 8/2010 translated into reality the terms of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and was aimed at strengthening the rights of persons with disabilities and protecting their dignity and well-being through their integration into and full participation in society. The law provided for welfare for persons with disabilities in terms of education, health, training and rehabilitation, as well as a number of financial and other benefits. The law also required employers to provide adequate work opportunities for persons with disabilities. Moreover, persons with disabilities contributed effectively to the work of the higher council for disability affairs. The promulgation of the law had coincided with the Government’s decision to accede to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the necessary measures were being taken to that end. 64. Lao People’s Democratic Republic commended Kuwait for having acceded to most international human rights treaties. Laos recognized that Kuwait had maintained its practice of supporting infrastructure projects in more than 100 developing and least developed countries through its Fund for Economic Development, which had provided more than $14.5 billion in assistance since 1961. It made a recommendation. 65. Chile valued the voluntary pledges reflected in the national report, in particular with regard to the possibility of acceding to international treaties and instruments to which Kuwait was not yet a party, as well as efforts to harmonize domestic legislation on children’s rights with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Chile commended Kuwait for progress made thus far in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Chile made recommendations. 66. The Netherlands asked the Government of Kuwait to elaborate on measures taken to address the situation of stateless Beduns and requested its views regarding the need to ensure that women were represented in Kuwait’s judiciary. The Netherlands also expressed concern about the persistence of discrimination against women in various laws and about the situation of foreign domestic workers. The Netherlands made recommendations. 67. Slovakia expressed concerns over the conditions of domestic servants and welcomed the amendments to the labour law. It referred to the Nationality Law, adopted in 1959, and noted that a substantial part of the country’s population had been left stateless and had been often subjected to various forms of discrimination, unlike regular citizens. Slovakia commended Kuwait for its recent steps regarding stateless persons. Slovakia made recommendations. 68. Belgium noted with satisfaction the voluntary commitments undertaken by Kuwait, in particular to changing the law on labour in the private sector. Belgium asked what measures were envisaged to improve the status of migrant workers and, in particular, domestic workers, and was interested to know about the process and the characteristics of the law being prepared in the National Assembly. Belgium was also concerned about the situation of Beduns. It made recommendations. 69. Nepal referred to the achievements accomplished in the areas of, inter alia, education and children’s and maternal health. Nepal noted with appreciation Kuwait’s cooperation with developing and least developed countries through the Kuwait Fund for Economic Development. It encouraged Kuwait to continue its efforts to ensure that migrant workers, including domestic workers, enjoyed their fundamental right to protection from any form of discrimination or exploitation. 11

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