Kuwait Human Rights
Human Rights Concerns
The human rights situation in Kuwait is unsettled, with significant improvement in some areas and less improvement in others. Arrests on the grounds of national security, particularly of those suspected of encouraging Kuwaitis to go to Iraq to fight against the US, and arrests in violation of freedom of expression continue.
Restored diplomatic relations with Iraq have led to the resolution of many POW issues from the 1991 Gulf War. The Kuwait Human Rights Society was licensed in August 2004, after 10 years of operating without formal government approval. Women were granted the right to vote in May 2005, but violence against women in society continues. Foreign workers remain vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, particularly female domestic workers, who have virtually no protection at all. Many Kuwaitis remain classified as “bidoon”, that is, without citizenship.
Four Kuwaitis are detained without charge by the US at Guantanamo Bay. Executions continue to take place (9 in 2004).
Latest News
Kuwait: Amnesty International welcomes the extension of political rights to womenMay 19, 2005
Kuwait: Time to release the remaining prisoners of the 1991 unfair trials
April 18, 2005
Kuwait: Investigation into death in custody required as a first step towards a greater observance of human rights standards
February 10, 2005
Kuwait: Bangladeshi migrant workers hanged following a flawed trial procedure
June 30, 2002
Kuwait: Halt the execution of three Bangladeshi migrant workers
June 24, 2002
Kuwait: Women win right to challenge discriminatory electoral law
June 01, 2000
Latest Reports
Vital UN human rights work under threatMay 09, 2007
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries: Women deserve dignity and respect
May 10, 2005
Women, violence and health
February 17, 2005
Kuwait: 'Disappeared' appeal case: George Victor Salsa: The need for closure
January 10, 2005
