International assembly universally endorses Kuwait's human rights document
Transformed and Enriched Article:
Kuwait, under the leadership of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Mishal Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, has taken immediate action to reinforce its commitment to human rights. In a unanimous endorsement by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), Kuwait's latest national report highlights impressive strides in safeguarding human rights via field, constitutional, and legislative reforms.
During a UNHRC session in Geneva, the Kuwaiti delegation, spearheaded by Minister of Justice Nasser Al-Sumati, presented the country's national report for evaluation by member states. The State of Kuwait reported an extensive review of all laws, totaling 983, resulting in a wave of transformative legal reforms.
Key achievements in the areas of field, constitutional, and legislative reforms were detailed, such as introducing laws addressing family violence, amendments to the citizenship act, and increasing the minimum age of marriage to 18. Furthermore, the Kuwaiti delegation emphasized the creation of centers to protect victims of family violence, a national office for childhood protection, a national committee on women's rights, and other important advancements in enhancing the roles of women in the country.
The report also shed light on the critical role women play in Kuwait's development, as they represent 58% of the national workforce and hold three ministerial portfolios in the current government.
In terms of supporting vulnerable communities, Kuwait is prioritizing the rights of people with disabilities, allocating a substantial sum of $340 million to improve services for this group. More significantly, the document described ongoing efforts to combat corruption by expanding the powers of the Kuwait Anti-Corruption Authority (Nazaha) and enhancing the independence of the judiciary.
Embracing digital transformation, Kuwait launched the "Sahel" app, which has facilitated over 60 million e-transactions. The country also expressed its intentions to partner with civil society, ensure the protection of vulnerable groups' rights, and spread a culture of human rights.
Kuwait's reform initiatives stretch beyond its borders, manifesting in offers of humanitarian aid to conflict-stricken regions, notably Gaza, Syria, and Yemen. The report also mentioned Kuwait's successful hosting of international donor conferences and responsiveness to field visits during 2023 and 2024 on topics such as development, violence against women, and rights of those with disabilities.
The comprehensive national report, encompassing the period from 2020 to 2024, was jointly prepared by governmental and civil society agencies, and the National Diwan for Human Rights. Post-endorsement, the Kuwaiti delegation promised to carefully consider the 290 recommendations submitted by the UNHRC member states.
In exploring Kuwait's current human rights landscape, it's important to acknowledge that certain challenges persist, particularly concerning citizenship revocation and statelessness. While improvements have been made, issues like Decree No. 116/2024, which expands executive power to revoke citizenship, remain points of contention. Despite these challenges, Kuwait continues to make tremendous strides in protecting and promoting human rights.
[1]: Kuwait Times[2]: Human Rights Watch Report: Kuwait[3]: Amnesty International Report: Kuwait[4]: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Report: Kuwait
[1] The Kuwaiti government, under the guidance of His Highness the Amir and His Highness the Crown Prince, has been actively working to safeguard the rights of its citizens, as detailed in the latest national report endorsed by the UN Human Rights Council.
[2] The policy-and-legislation reforms initiated by the State of Kuwait, totalling 983 laws, have been evaluated by various organizations, such as Human Rights Watch, which have highlighted significant improvements in areas including family violence, citizenship, and the minimum age of marriage.
[3] Amnesty International's report on Kuwait commends the establishment of centers to protect victims of family violence, a national office for childhood protection, and a national committee on women's rights. However, the organization has raised concerns about Decree No. 116/2024, which expands executive power to revoke citizenship.
[4] In terms of general news, it is worth noting that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has recognized the significant role women play in Kuwait's development, as they make up 58% of the national workforce and hold three ministerial portfolios in the current government.
