Al-Hawila: Child care requires a safe family and social environment

Kuwait’s Minister of Social Affairs, Labor, and Social Development, Dr. Amthal Al-Huwaili, affirmed on Monday that attention to the child requires providing a safe family and social environment that supports their psychological, social, and cognitive development, alongside the development of legislation that guarantees their rights, foremost among which is the updating of the Child Law.

This came in a speech delivered by Al-Huwaili at the opening of the Mental Health Conference and the Second Exhibition of the Ministry of Social Affairs 2026, organized by the Awareness and Counseling Center under the slogan “Play is Life… When Play Becomes a Language for Learning and Growth,” and lasting for two days.

She added that there is importance in enhancing the awareness of families and society regarding the role of play in child development, and in providing an atmosphere characterized by acceptance and support, which contributes to building a sense of security, belonging, and trust among children.

She noted that the Ministry is keen on supporting initiatives that promote mental health, reinforce the role of the family, and support specialists and workers in the social and psychological fields through the exchange of expertise, knowledge, and specialized practices.

She pointed out that partnership with civil society institutions represents a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable impact and serving society, praising the support of the Khairiya Development Association and its partnership in the success of this conference.

She expressed her hope that the conference would yield recommendations and practices that contribute to enhancing the quality of services provided to children and families, extending her thanks to partners, sponsors, lecturers, specialists, participating entities, and all those who contributed to preparation and organization.