KUWAIT CITY, Sept 10: The Council of Ministers has approved a draft decree-law amending certain provisions of Law No. 21/2015 regarding the rights of the child. This amendment aims to solidify guarantees related to national identity and stop the laxity of some parents in obtaining official documents for newborns. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah proposed the amendment, which stipulates the addition of articles 17bis and 81 bis to the law. The newspaper obtained a copy of the draft decree-law, consisting of two articles.
The first stipulates that two new articles, numbered 17bis and 81bis, shall be added to Law No. 21/2015 to read as follows: Article 17bis: Every Kuwaiti father or legal guardian must apply to add the newborn to the nationality file of the father, along with the required documents, within 60 days from the date of birth. Article 81bis: Anyone who violates the provisions of Article 17bis of this law shall be fined not less than KD2,000 and not more than KD3,000. The explanatory memorandum indicates that the State guarantees the rights of the child as per Law No. 21/2015, thereby providing legal and social guarantees. The State is keen on protecting these rights, especially the right to national identity.
It pointed out that due to the negligence of some parents or guardians in obtaining official documents for the child, specifically adding the child to the nationality file of the father, it was necessary to enact the legislation obligating the legal guardian to add the newborn to the nationality file, as stated in Article 17bis, while Article 81bis stipulates the penalty for anyone who fails to fulfill this obligation. It added that the purpose of the amendment is to protect the rights of children and establish their national identity from the beginning of their life, indicating that the laxity of some parents in registering births in the nationality file of the father resulted in procedural and legal problems, which necessitated taking decisive legislative action.
By Jaber Al-Hamoud
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
