KUWAIT CITY, Sept 24: A major scientific forum titled "Women: Between Rights and Belonging" was held in Kuwait on Wednesday, bringing together academics, legal scholars, and social experts to discuss key issues affecting Kuwaiti women across legal, Sharia, social, and educational dimensions.

Organized by the Kuwaiti Women’s Hopes Association in collaboration with the Center for Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies at Kuwait University, the one-day event featured two sessions focused on constitutional, legal, psychological, and societal aspects of women’s lives in Kuwait.

Speaking to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following the opening session, Chairperson of the Association Wedad Al-Mishaal said the forum aims to generate sustainable and practical solutions to women’s issues by engaging professionals across multiple disciplines.

Al-Mishaal highlighted recent legislative gains for Kuwaiti women but stressed that several challenges remain, requiring collaborative efforts from civil society, state institutions, and academia to ensure long-term progress and empowerment.

“The association gives special attention to all Kuwaiti women — married, widowed, divorced, or single — as they all deserve care, protection, and equal access to rights,” she said. Al-Mishaal emphasized that the association continuously follows up on women’s civil, legal, and social demands to secure family and societal stability.

She further noted that the association, founded in 2023 as a civil development organization, operates with a vision rooted in partnership and cooperation. Its mission includes raising awareness of women’s civil and constitutional rights, improving relevant legislation, and organizing educational and cultural programs that bolster women’s roles in national development.

For his part, Acting Director of the Center for Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies at Kuwait University, Dr. Yaqoub Al-Kandari, affirmed the center’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with civil society groups to support national and social development.

“This forum continues a series of scientific events hosted by the center in recent years,” Al-Kandari said, noting that the center prioritizes women’s issues in its research agenda.

He added that the forum’s first session tackled constitutional and legal matters, while the second session addressed social, psychological, and educational themes, with contributions from prominent academics and researchers who have published extensively in the field.

Al-Kandari explained that the forum’s discussions would culminate in a set of scientific and practical recommendations, which will be submitted to relevant authorities to help guide future policies and initiatives supporting Kuwaiti women.

The Kuwaiti Women’s Hopes Association continues to work toward empowering women through legal reform, educational awareness, and social engagement, aiming to reinforce their role in shaping Kuwait’s sustainable development and public life.

A group of academics and specialists attending the 'Women: Between Rights and Belonging' forum in Kuwait.

Dr. Yaqoub Al-Kandari, Acting Director of the Center for Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Studies at Kuwait University.

President and Founder of the Kuwaiti Women’s Hopes Association, Wedad Al-Mishaal.