A/HRC/29/17 8. Kuwait attached great importance to women’s rights and their protection. Participation by Kuwaiti women in the labour market had increased during 2010–2013 to 51 per cent in the private sector and 45 per cent in the government sector. The proportion of women in senior posts in both sectors had reached 20 per cent. The principle of equal pay between men and women for work of equal value in the private sector had been established. Employment of women in the judiciary was approved, while it had previously been limited to men only. 9. A new law on public assistance had been promulgated in 2011, ensuring better standards of living for members of society, especially those in low-income groups such as Kuwaiti women married to limited-income non-Kuwaiti men, as well as women over 55 years of age with no income, and married students. Furthermore, Act No. 2/2011 had introduced amendments to the Housing Welfare Act. Housing requests from Kuwaiti women married to non-Kuwaiti men after they obtained citizenship were now taken into account, and they were also granted housing loans by the Kuwait Credit Bank. 10. In its Development Plan 2015/2016–2019/2020, Kuwait had included objectives for the empowerment of women by reviewing legislation and suppressing discrimination against them through a joint committee of representatives from civil society institutions. 11. The Constitution considered the protection of children to be a fundamental social principle, through which the integrity of the family was preserved and its ties strengthened (art. 9). The State was obligated to protect children from exploitation and from moral, physical, and spiritual neglect (art. 10). 12. In the light of the above, Kuwait had decided to raise the standard of living of children by issuing the new Public Assistance Act No. 12/2011 and decree No. 23/2013 concerning entitlement to public assistance, and to provide a suitable environment for children to prepare them for pre-public education, through the Private Crèches Act No. 22/2014. 13. Kuwait was a country that attracted foreign workers. Their number was constantly increasing and had exceeded 1.496 million. In total, foreign workers amounted up to more than two-thirds of the population, representing more than 164 different nationalities. Kuwait had made sure during the review of its labour regulations that the new Private Sector Employment Act No. 6/2010 included more rights and legal safeguards for workers. 14. In that context, the Public Manpower Authority had been established under Act No. 109/2013. This authority had the exclusive responsibility of bringing over foreign workers based on employers’ requests to facilitate their transition and mitigate the influence of the employers on them. Furthermore, a permanent shelter had been inaugurated to house foreign workers facing labour disputes. 15. Kuwait was determined to provide a decent life for illegal residents, through various legislation and procedures. The Central Agency for Regularization of the Status of Illegal Residents had been established by Amiri Decree No. 467/201. Ministerial Decision No. 409/2011 concerning the provision of facilities and services for illegal residents provided for their access to medical treatment, education, the issuance of official documents, such as birth and death certificates, marriage and divorce certificates, succession certificates, passports, driving licences, ration cards and employment. Act No. 8/2010 concerning the rights of persons with disabilities applied to illegal residents without discrimination or exclusion. Illegal residents were entitled to housing welfare and social services. They also had the right to seek legal redress and enjoy public freedoms. 16. For dissemination of the culture of human rights, a legislative amendment had been made to the law of the Constitutional Court, which had opened the way for citizens to directly address the Court to challenge the constitutionality of laws. In the education sector, 4