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US official applauds Kuwait's inclusion of women in military
US official applauds Kuwait's inclusion of women in military
Allowing Kuwaiti women to join military a milestone in gender equality: McGee
NEW YORK: US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Jacob McGee, praised Kuwait's recent steps to empower women through military service, calling the decision to allow women to join the armed forces a significant and commendable achievement. Speaking during a meeting with Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah, Kuwait's Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs, on the sidelines of the 18th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, McGee highlighted the policy shift as a strong reflection of Kuwait's commitment to advancing women's rights and gender equality.
His comments come as the Kuwaiti Army opens new pathways for female participation in military service. The General Staff recently announced two major initiatives. University-educated women can now apply to Ali Al-Sabah Military College, which offers them the chance to complete a one-year program at the Women's Police Institute before graduating with the rank of Second Lieutenant. Applications open from June 15 to July 3. Separately, starting May 4, female applicants with 11th-grade education or below were invited to join the military as volunteers, with rank assignments based on academic level, and a three-month non-residential training course.
These steps follow a broader national effort to revive and expand women's military roles, which have faced political and religious scrutiny in recent years. While women were first permitted to apply for combat roles in December 2021, the program was suspended pending religious guidance. A fatwa issued in January 2022 limited women's participation to medical, technical, and support roles, under strict conditions.
Despite early setbacks, senior officials have since renewed calls for inclusion. In January, First Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef Al-Sabah underscored women's proven capabilities in various military sectors, urging greater integration. During the meeting in New York—also attended by Kuwait's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Tareq Al-Bannai—Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher reaffirmed Kuwait's broader commitment to human rights and combatting human trafficking, emphasizing the government's dedication to aligning with international human rights standards. — Agencies
