VIEW ON UNICEF COUNTRY PROGRAM FOR KUWAIT

UNCLAS KUWAIT 003243

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR NEA/ARP AND IO/EDA CAROTHERS; PLEASE PASS TO USAID FOR
GH D. GIBBS;

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID ECON PREL UNICEF KU
SUBJECT: VIEW ON UNICEF COUNTRY PROGRAM FOR KUWAIT

REF: STATE 125431

Sensitive but unclassified; not for internet distribution.


1. (SBU) Post welcomes the invitation to offer input
regarding UNICEF programs in Kuwait. Embassy concurs that
the areas in greatest need of attention are advocacy for
marginalized children, childhood education, and child
protection programs. Post commends UNICEF's focus in Kuwait
on opportunities for Bidoon children, jobs skills training
for adolescents, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, and
encourages that motor vehicle safety be added to the health
component.


2. (SBU) Bidoon children are clearly the most critical
target group for child advocacy programs. These largely
disenfranchised children are at high risk for turning to
violent extremism due to a lack of educational opportunities,
job prospects and social services. The freedoms and
opportunities of bidoon children are still severely
restricted compared to those of children with full Kuwaiti
citizenship.


3. (SBU) In the area of education, the Government of
Kuwait's efforts to shift labor from the public to the
private sector mean that the next generation of the Kuwaiti
work force will need to develop a new set of skills to
compete for meaningful jobs. With approximately ninety
percent of Kuwaitis employed in the public sector, employment
is currently considered an entitlement guaranteed by the
Government. However, the gradual depletion of Kuwaiti oil
reserves and the privatization of the economy will place new
demands on the next generation of the Kuwaiti work force.
Kuwait's education system has not yet adjusted to meet the
demands of a private-sector dominated economy. In the
absence of improved curricula and teaching methods, Kuwaitis
will find themselves ill-equipped to compete in the global
marketplace. Education programs promoting healthy lifestyles
are also needed to address the growing problems of childhood
obesity and type 1 diabetes.


4. (SBU) Finally, in the area of child protection, programs
should address the high incidence of deaths and injuries to
children involved in traffic accidents. Post knows of no
official statistics, but anecdotally, the death rate for
vehicular accidents in Kuwait is relatively high.
Insufficient use of child safety seats is suspected to be a
major contributing factor to this problem.

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