Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Kuwait for Efforts to Advance Women’s Socio-Economic Empowerment, Raise Questions on the Practice of “Honour” Killings and the Nationality Law

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the sixth periodic report of Kuwait with Committee Experts commending the State for the efforts made to advance women’s socio-economic empowerment, while raising questions on the practice of “honour” killings and Kuwait’s nationality law.

A Committee Expert commended the State party’s efforts on advancing women’s socio-economic empowerment. The Social Assistance Act and innovations like the annual Kuwait Distinguished Women’s Award underscored the significant contributions of women in both public and private sectors. The third development plan, the Ring the Bell for Women’s Empowerment initiative, and the trail-blazing appointment of women to key positions were also commendable.

Another Expert said honour killings occurred where a spouse, son or father killed their wife or relative when they were committing adultery, without being charged. Would this practice, which effectively sacrificed women at the altar of their families’ honour, be abolished? States, including Lebanon and Jordan, had abolished the article which mitigated the sentence of people who claimed they killed for honour; would Kuwait follow suit?

An Expert said Kuwaiti nationality law went against the Constitution and the Convention. Around 20,000 Kuwaiti women were married to foreigners, and their children did not enjoy citizenship rights and were treated as expatriates in their homeland. When would the Government give Kuwaiti women the right to give their children and foreign husbands citizenship, just like Kuwaiti men? What measures was the State taking to advance naturalisation?

The delegation said honour crimes were passion crimes taking place in the heat of the moment. If these crimes were committed, laws were respected. Several appeal cases had led to the modification of the legislation and the approach to honour crimes. An article provided for mitigating circumstances for the perpetrator, such as in cases where the perpetrator had walked in on a case of adultery and was surprised and committed the crime in the heat of the moment. Nevertheless, the perpetrator stood trial at the criminal court. When the crime was premediated, the perpetrator received the highest level of sentencing. It was highly probable this law would be amended in the future.

The delegation said there were no different procedures for Kuwaiti men and women when it came to nationality and naturalisation. The Kuwaiti nationality law had set forth the main rule when it came to nationality, which stated that Kuwaiti nationality was transferred from fathers. The children of Kuwaiti women from a foreign husband would keep their nationality. It was not necessary to give foreign spouses the Kuwaiti nationality.

Naser A. Alhayen, Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, introducing the report, said the State had three key goals in relation to the rights of women: combatting discrimination and violence against women; creating an empowering environment for women entrepreneurship; and encouraging the appointment of women in leadership positions. A budget of 2.5 million USD had been earmarked for this. A national initiative had been launched to improve the empowerment of women in the private sector, and 15 executives from major Kuwaiti companies had participated. As a result of this project, the percentage of women on the board of the Kuwaiti Central Bank had reached 50 per cent, and women’s leadership representation had also increased in other sectors, including the police force, the judicial sector, and the oil sector.

In concluding remarks, Mr. Alhayen thanked the Committee members for the questions and comments aimed towards the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as the participation of civil society organizations in the dialogue. Kuwait’s participation in the high-level discussion reflected the State’s desire to implement the Convention.

Ana Peláez Narváez, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue with the Committee, which had helped it to better understand the situation of women and girls in Kuwait.

The delegation of Kuwait was comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry Interior; the Ministry of Justice; the Ministry of Public Health; the Ministry of Social Affairs; the Ministry of Information; the Public Prosecutor; the Central System for the Remedy of Situations of Illegal Residents; the Supreme Council for Family Affairs; the Supreme Council for Planning and Development; the Public Authority for Manpower; and the Permanent Mission of Kuwait to the United Nations Office at Geneva.

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women’s eighty-eighth session is being held from 13 May to 31 May. All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.

The Committee will next meet in public at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, 22 May to consider the sixth periodic report of Malaysia (CEDAW/C/MYS/6).

Report

The Committee has before it the sixth periodic report of Kuwait (CEDAW/C/KWT/6).

Presentation of Report

NASER A. ALHAYEN, Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, said Kuwait had benefitted from the remarks and recommendations made by the Committee in the past and looked forward to today’s discussion. On 16 May, Kuwait commemorated the Day of Kuwaiti Women, marking the day when Kuwaiti women gained political rights. Kuwaiti women played a pivotal and substantial role in the development of the country and had made great strides in participation in the labour market, accounting for 58 per cent of the national workforce. Kuwait had acceded to the Convention in 1994, and it had become part of national legislation, with all State authorities obliged to enforce it.

The State had developed a body of legislature to align with women’s rights. The Secretary-General of the United Nations had visited Kuwait earlier this month; the High Commissioner for Human Rights would visit Kuwait in December 2024; and last May, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls had visited the country. The State had enabled Kuwaiti women to assume salient international positions, including Rola Dashti who was Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, and Rehab Boresli who was a member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had established a department for human rights in 2019. A standing committee had been established to follow up recommendations by international bodies. Decree 191 had been introduced in December 2023 to establish a national committee to implement the Security Council resolution women, peace and security.

The State had three key goals in relation to the rights of women: combatting discrimination and violence against women; creating an empowering environment for women entrepreneurship; and encouraging the appointment of women in leadership positions. A budget of 2.5 million dollars had been earmarked for this. A Committee was created to overcome all obstacles faced by women in the business sector. A national initiative had been launched to improve the empowerment of women in the private sector, and 15 executives from major Kuwaiti companies had participated. As a result of this project, the percentage of women on the board of the Kuwaiti Central Bank had reached 50 per cent, and women’s leadership representation had also increased in other sectors, including the police force, the judicial sector, and the oil sector.

Women’s representation had doubled within Kuwait and they had assumed high-level positions, including as ambassadors, ministers, and positions within the diplomatic core. For the first time, four females had been appointed at the municipal level in the local council. Kuwaiti women had progressed by 10 points in the global index gender gap, ranking third at the Arab level on women, peace and security.

The Kuwaiti Ministry of Information was preparing several awareness raising programmes to promote the rights of women and to shed light on their roles within society at all levels. This aimed to put an end to all forms of discrimination against women. Kuwaiti women had occupied leadership positions within the Kuwaiti oil sector and had made tangible achievements in this sector. In December 2020, a diversity and inclusion council within the Kuwaiti oil sector was established, which saw 12 per cent of women as leaders within this sector, and an 18 per cent representation of women on boards. Women carried out significant projects within this sector, including the management of oil wells, marketing, and administrative tasks.

Kuwait was also committed to empowering women in sports, considering that sport contributed to achieving economic change. Two Kuwaiti women had been given the badge of international referees for handball at the Olympics. Mr. Alhayen concluded by playing a short video which highlighted the accomplishments of Kuwaiti women.

Questions by Committee Experts

NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Kuwait, said Kuwait was one of the highest achieving countries in the Middle East when it came to achieving gender parity. Since its last periodic report in 2017, Kuwait had made notable strides in gender equality. It was noteworthy that 57 women had joined the diplomatic corps, 55 had become prosecutors, and 15 had been appointed as judges. The Committee commended the adoption of law no. 16 of 2020 on protection from domestic violence and the mental health law in 2019. However, challenges remained. The dissolution of parliament in May, just one month after elections, was concerning. It was hoped this would spur action to move forward and pursue change.

The Constitution lacked a comprehensive definition of discrimination. Did the State party intend to amend its Constitution to include a comprehensive definition of discrimination, in line with article 1 of the Convention? What was the status of the Convention within the national legal system? Had the Convention been invoked in both civil and Sharia courts? What measures was the State party taking to increase the visibility of the Convention and raise awareness about it among the general public, as well as the judiciary? What free legal assistance services were available to women in Kuwait? Did Kuwait intend to withdraw reservations to articles 9 and 16?

A Committee Expert said article 16 was the core of the Convention. The State party was urged to withdraw the reservation to this article.

Reponses by the Delegation

The delegation said the political dissolutions which took place respected the provisions of the Constitution. The fact that the Amir had suspended certain components of the Constitution did not mean rights were being impacted, but allowed experts to plug any gaps in the implementation of the Constitution. Making a reservation on an article was the right of Member States; these reservations were still in force, but it did not prevent the State from aiming to reform the Constitution to ensure alignment with the Convention. The State had reviewed legislation on women’s rights, and managed to reach gender equality, including with the electoral law of 2023. Previously the law stipulated that a wife could only obtain a passport with the concession of her husband. This provision had been struck down. The Constitution was adopted in 1972, so it was time for a review.

The Kuwaiti Constitution comprised of all forms of direct and indirect discrimination. The text of the Constitution was not confined to discrimination against men or women only, but rather all forms of discrimination.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said Kuwait had abolished the Committee on Women’s Affairs. The National Secretariat had established the Committee of Women’s Affairs in 2021, which was entrusted with the economic empowerment of women. The plan of 2025 had a policy which allowed for the political, economic and social integration of women, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Could more information be provided about the next five-year plan, regarding the role of women in their adoption and implementation? Were there future plans to promote the rights of women and address their causes? What was the budget which took into account the needs of women? Were there any clear plans and outcomes on the guidance of the national authority of human rights? What steps had been taken to achieve the promotion and protection of human rights in accordance with the Paris Principles?

Another Expert congratulated Kuwait on their policy on international cooperation and mediation, and on the measurable progress made since the last periodic report. The increased participation of women in education, the labour market, and public and political life was noted with great satisfaction. Kuwait was congratulated on the high-level global economic forum. However, there were concerns regarding the number of women in parliament, with just 18 per cent of posts held by women. Could information be provided about women’s role in the technological sector? The Expert emphasised the importance of placing parity at the heart of the country’s legislative agenda. This was an important lever for development. It was important to have a strategy based on political will, and support a strategy based on temporary special measures. It was crucial to accelerate changes through laws.

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the Supreme Council of Family Affairs was entrusted with all activities related to the rights of women. The Council cooperated with all institutions of the State to unify efforts on the protection of families. Gender equality and the empowerment of women was an integral part in the policy to support social and economic integration. Twenty-seven training programmes had been organised to train women to hold leadership positions, with more than 2 million dollars earmarked for this purpose. The latest Government had two women who acted as Ministers.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert commended the State’s adoption of the Domestic Violence Act of 2020. However, the scope of the law was limited, including not setting out penalties for domestic violence as a crime on its own. Would these gaps be plugged, and when? When would the sexual harassment law be adopted, as pledged by parliamentarians? The marriage law required both spouses to reach puberty before marriage, which was ambiguous. Would the State consider Islamic jurisprudence which was more compatible with the Convention? Kuwait did not yet have a law which criminalised female genital mutilation; would the State consider following States like Egypt and enacting a law? Would the State consider scrapping the law which allowed rapists to escape punishment by marrying the victim?

Honour killings occurred where a spouse, son or father killed their wife or relative when they were committing adultery, without being charged? Would this practice, which effectively sacrificed women at the altar of their families’ honour, be abolished? States, including Lebanon and Jordan, had abolished the article which mitigated the sentence of people who claimed they killed for honour; would Kuwait follow suit?

A rising feminist movement in Kuwait had been met with a culture war, including insidious stereotypes. How would these stereotypes be addressed through a transformative national narrative? The State’s efforts on women, peace and security in the Arab world should be applauded. However, it was important to address this topic in non-conflict situations too.

Another Expert said an article had been annulled from the 2013 anti-trafficking law; what had been done to remedy this annulment and address the falling behind on convictions of trafficking cases? Had the national action plan on trafficking been evaluated? How did the State party view the effectiveness so far, considering the decline in identifying and prosecuting cases of trafficking? Was there an obligatory training programme to identify signs of trafficking for authorities? Were there plans to reform the current visa-based kafala system? What was the data on the number of employees who were victims of trafficking? How did the State party ascertain that victims of sex trafficking were identified? Was there protection addressed in the national referral mechanism?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said the Ministry of Justice was conducting legal studies on legislation, including on child marriage. There needed to be significant studies and research on provisions which needed to be amended in legislation which concerned the family. Citizens needed to be aware of the benefit of proposed amendments and should be consulted. Legislation had been enacted to criminalise female genital mutilation and guarantee bodily integrity. Acts of beating or cutting were criminalised by law. Inflicting any harm was criminalised, especially against reproductive organs.

Female genital mutilation was a crime, as per the previous laws. This had become a part of the open-ended crimes and the punishment was determined depending on the degree of the crime inflicted. The practice of female circumcision did not exist in Kuwait and it had nothing to do with any traditions or religions in Kuwait. The article regarding a rapist and their victim needed to be clarified. If a rape had taken place, the perpetrator could not escape being held accountable to the law and would receive the relevant penalty.

Honour crimes were passion crimes taking place in the heat of the moment. If these crimes were committed, laws were respected. Several appeal cases had led to the modification of the legislation and the approach to honour crimes. An article provided for mitigating circumstances for the perpetrator, such as in cases where the perpetrator had walked in on a case of adultery and was surprised, and committed the crime in the heat of the moment. Nevertheless, the perpetrator stood trial at the criminal court. When the crime was premediated, the perpetrator received the highest level of sentencing. It was highly probable this law would be amended in the future.

Shelters were set up throughout the country for victims of violence and victims could make complaints, including through a nation-wide hotline. Female police officers had been trained to be key interlocutors in cases of family violence. From 2020 to 2023, 113 complaints were lodged with the Public Prosecutor’s Office on cases of trafficking. Eighteen cases had been forwarded to the courts for trial and 114 persons had been charged. Priority had been given to providing full victim support and assistance. Compensation and remedies were also provided to victims of trafficking.

The State had been seeking to streamline reporting channels through new technologies, and had included mechanisms to hear from victims in a confidential manner. Twenty-six workshops had been held in 2023 to train officials on issues of human trafficking. Everyone working in the judicial field was obligated to undergo such training. Kuwait had recently held a joint visit with Bahrain to adopt a coordinated approach to tackling human trafficking. A unit responsible for the crime of human trafficking had been established.

A mechanism was in place for monitoring the manpower workforce system to ensure workers who reported cases of abuse were duly heard. There was a refuge for abused workers, including victims of human trafficking. The authority responsible for domestic workers was required to end the contract of the abused domestic workers and find them a new, credible employer. For a foreign national to enter Kuwait, they needed to receive the right to entry through the Ministry of Labour. There was an ongoing review of the visa system. There were shelters in the State, where all services were provided, including legal services and counselling. Shelters provided three meals a day free of charge to victims.

The Public Prosecutor oversaw all felonies and misdemeanours after investigations. A decision was then issued for the matter to be reserved, or to be transferred to the courts. The courts were fully independent, as was the judiciary. Prostitution was criminalised, and forcing someone to engage in prostitution was also criminalised. In Kuwait, movies and soap operas were obligated not to include the abuse of women in their content, or show any scenes which undermined women. For many years, the Ministry of Information had shown women in a positive light.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said the Kuwait 2035 strategy was part of the new vision of Kuwait. Systematic obstacles to elections could affect eligible young female candidates. Was financial support envisaged to support candidacies? How many female ambassadors did Kuwait have? How many women were working in international institutions outside of the country? What was the timeline for the implementation of the women, peace and security plan? It was important to reinforce women’s presence in climate change and other areas which could transform the world.

Another Expert said Kuwait had not acceded to the conventions on statelessness. There were around 92,000 stateless persons in Kuwait. Kuwaiti nationality law went against the Constitution and the Convention. Around 20,000 Kuwaiti women were married to foreigners, and their children did not enjoy citizenship rights and were treated as expatriates in their homeland. When would the Government give Kuwaiti women the right to give their children and foreign husbands citizenship, just like Kuwaiti men? What measures was the State taking to advance naturalisation?

Reponses by the Delegation

The delegation said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated in most conferences and seminars regarding women, peace and security. A Committee for Women, Peace and Security had been established last year. Workshops had been held with the Economic and Social Committee of Western Asia. The number of female diplomats was 141, compared to 517 male diplomats, a percentage of 21 per cent. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had achieved parity.

There were no different procedures for Kuwaiti men and women when it came to nationality and naturalisation. The Kuwaiti nationality law had set forth the main rule when it came to nationality, which stated that Kuwaiti nationality was transferred from fathers. The children of Kuwaiti women from a foreign husband would keep their nationality. It was not necessary to give foreign spouses the Kuwaiti nationality.

Women had assumed many leadership positions in Kuwait across a variety of sectors, including the public workforce authority, where women occupied 38 per cent of leadership roles. Women participated in cultural events and were active in the Kuwaiti art scene. In the Kuwaiti news agency, women assumed leadership positions on the board of directors. Two female Ministers had been appointed within the State, the Ministers for Workforce and for Social Affairs. Female judges were now part of the judiciary of Kuwait. There was a hierarchy, stipulated on the law of the judiciary. There were now 15 female judges out of 400 and 92 female prosecutors out of 526. This was just the beginning of a trend to empower women in this sector. Many more female judges would be appointed in the next judicial year.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert commended Kuwait on the educational attainment of women, which was at 100 per cent. Women outnumbered men two to one at the tertiary level. What was the reason for this gap? What pathways were men taking? What was the position regarding migrants and migrant domestic workers seeking employment? How was the State ensuring the other aims of education, including networks and critical thinking, if women were not in the same classroom with men? What was the rationale? What were the completion rates of night schools?

Another Expert said several provisions of the labour law discriminated against women. Would the State party increase the duration of maternity leave to at least 14 weeks, in line with international standards? Did Kuwait intend to introduce paid paternity leave for fathers? What measures had been taken to ensure women received equal pay for equal work? There was no clear definition of sexual harassment. What were the reporting procedures outlined in the decree 177 on protecting against workplace discrimination? What measures were taken to ensure that women were not penalised for reporting sexual harassment in the workplace?

What measures had been taken to raise awareness among women migrant workers on their rights? How were their work hours being reduced and their wage protection system expanded? How was it ensured that migrant workers fleeing abusive employers were not penalised? How many complaints had been received from migrant domestic workers and what were the topics of their complaints? How many migrant domestic workers had been charged with capital crimes and sentenced to death?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said people who had entered Kuwait to surreptitiously gain citizenship were not considered stateless persons. The Government of Kuwait had taken many measures to address the situation of illegal residents. A roadmap had been drawn up for this purpose. An agency had been created to address this situation, and it coordinated with State authorities to enable these people to access services, including through the provision of a card which provided access to health and medical insurance and other services. Hundreds of thousands of cards had been issued this year.

The State provided the right to education for all, without discrimination. Education had been free of charge since 1965 throughout all stages. Educational services were provided to persons with disabilities. Around 14,500 students were admitted in the 2023/2024 academic year. Female students had joined faculties of engineering and medicine, and accounted for double the number of males who were medical graduates. The role of Kuwaiti women had been highlighted in all walks of life.

Kuwait had ratified Convention 111 on Anti-Discrimination. The State was committed to combatting discrimination and provided annual reports on this topic. If any case of discrimination was established within the workplace, it was referred to the State authorities. Kuwaiti legislation sought to protect women through the labour law. The sector of petrochemicals had been removed from the sectors where women could not work. This had been done to implement full gender equality in the labour field.

Articles were included in the law to protect the rights of migrant workers.

Pamphlets were printed and distributed to raise awareness on the rights of workers. A hotline had been established for grievances and 24 complaints had recently been received. A two-year training course had been arranged for labour inspectors; 169 inspectors had benefited from this course.

There were co-education secondary schools in Kuwait and tertiary education in Kuwait was co-educational.

Labour inspectors had the mandate to enact administrative measures in line with the law and ensured that the companies employing domestic workers were legitimate.

Questions by Committee Experts

A Committee Expert said Kuwait was a major security point for Afghan women in transit, which was commendable.

Another Expert said in 2019, Kuwait enacted the Mental Health Act which oversaw the improvement of mental health treatment. However, major challenges to women’s health and reproductive rights remained, including access to safe abortion. Abortion was prohibited unless it was to save the mother’s life, or if the foetus would be born with a deficiency. The consent of both parents was required and the procedure was required to be signed off by a medical committee. Many women in the country resorted to unsafe abortions. When did the State party plan to permit abortion on further grounds, and to remove the requirement for consent by the father and the medical committee? When would the State ensure full decriminalisation of abortion? How was health care for migrant workers ensured?A Committee Expert commended the State party’s efforts on advancing women’s socio-economic empowerment. The Social Assistance Act and innovations like the annual Kuwait Distinguished Women’s Award underscored the significant contributions of women in both public and private sectors. The third development plan, the Ring the Bell for Women’s Empowerment initiative, and the trail-blazing appointment of women to key positions were also commendable. What measures were planned to combat discrimination in service delivery? Was there a timeline for achieving a zero-gender gap in social benefits for all categories of women? What measures were planned to strengthen social buffers for migrant women workers, especially when they were unemployed or between jobs? What were the social services extended to vulnerable groups?

What were the current plans aimed at redressing barriers which constrained women’s full participation in the field of sports? How many female competitions were organized annually? What was the status of gender-sensitive budget implementation in Kuwait? What innovative approaches existed to overcome gender norms and stereotypes and expand women’s access to business resources?

Responses by the Delegation

Pregnancy and abortion were regulated by law, the delegation said. Abortion took place in specific circumstances, including to save the life of the mother. There was no form of discrimination between men and women when it came to taking out loans from banks. Kuwaiti women today were preparing to take part in the Paris Olympics and were being supported by the State. For the first time, a female athlete from Kuwait had earned the country a silver medal. In the past four years, women had taken part in more than 60 sporting competitions at every level.

In Kuwait, there was no discrimination based on disabilities. The law on disability contained 72 articles that covered all aspects of the lives of persons with disabilities to provide them with a dignified life. Pregnant Kuwaiti women with disabilities were provided maternity leave at full pay. A staff member with a disability received an end of service bonus at 100 per cent. Shelters and rehabilitation centres were provided for persons with disabilities throughout the country.

There were no migrant domestic workers in Kuwait; instead, there were migrant workers with contracts. Workers were provided with healthcare free of charge, including vaccinations. There was no discrimination between Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti persons, including domestic workers.

Employers paid the fees for the recruitment of working women. It was a nominal amount, less than 15 USD. In cases where these women could not pay, the State paid these fees. Kuwaiti law criminalised rape. Raped victims could not be criminalised, but abortion was criminalised by Kuwaiti’s legislators. However, studies were being carried out to ascertain if a woman who became pregnant after being raped could receive an abortion.

Questions by Committee Experts

An Expert recognised Kuwait’s commitment to become carbon neutral in oil and gas by 2050, among other achievements. However, like other Gulf States, Kuwait was vulnerable to climate change. What concrete measures was the State undertaking to ensure that all women could prepare for the impacts of climate change? Did the State party intend to create a specific legal framework for refugee women which gave them access to basic legal services in Kuwait?

Another Expert said women and men in Kuwait could hold assets equally on a legal footing. What was the current review of the law to eliminate any discriminatory provisions in the divorce process? What steps had the State taken to prohibit or discourage polygamy? Was there an ongoing process to review legislation for the minimum age of marriage?

Responses by the Delegation

The delegation said Kuwait was reviewing whether to accede to the Optional Protocol or not. Women usually disproportionately faced impacts of climate change. A study in 2013 found that education was the main factor which helped women to combat climate change. There were more than 19,000 women in the Ministry of Health. Women made up around 30 per cent of the negotiating committee on climate change. The number of women employed in the public sector outstood the number of men. Of the 3,700 persons in an irregular migrant situation, 2,800 of them were women. There were 90,000 regular migrants in Kuwait, and a study was ongoing to identify the exact number, as this figure was constantly changing. Kuwait was not normally a destination country for asylum seekers. Kuwait was a donor country which provided money for infrastructure to address the migration phenomenon around the world.

Women had the right to bequeath their property to their children, in line with the inheritance law. There was a specific set of legislation for non-Muslims with regards to inheritance. The best interest of the child prevailed at all times when it came to guardianship and wardship. Advisors’ offices had been set up which provided counsel to men and women on an equal basis. Family counselling could be accessed via a hotline. The Personal Status Code, based on Islamic Sharia, regulated issues of divorce. Equality between men and women in divorce was safeguarded in Kuwaiti law and in line with the Constitution. The Personal Status Code adhered to freedom of religion or belief. This was applicable to Muslims. Non-Muslims were not covered by polygamy laws. Polygamy was not compulsory, it was optional.

A family court had been created which dealt with marriage, divorce and child custody, and allowed women to bring proceedings before a judge on personal status matters. Proceedings were free of charge. The State supported raising the minimum age for marriage, and studies were being undertaken in this regard.

Questions by Committee Experts

NAHLA HAIDAR, Committee Expert and Rapporteur for Kuwait, said access to justice and services was provided to women without any financial aid. This extended to non-Kuwaiti women who were vulnerable. There were 57 Islamic countries that had ratified the Convention, including 32 without reservations. Kuwait could be an ideal place for a dialogue with religious and traditional leaders to deconstruct the discourse in the name of religion, which was often used against women.

Concluding Remarks

NASER A. ALHAYEN, Permanent Representative of Kuwait to the United Nations Office at Geneva and head of the delegation, thanked the Committee members for the questions and comments aimed towards the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as the participation of civil society organizations in the dialogue. Kuwait’s participation in the high-level discussion reflected the State’s desire to implement the Convention.

ANA PELÁEZ NARVÁEZ, Committee Chairperson, thanked the delegation for the constructive dialogue with the Committee, which had helped it to better understand the situation of women and girls in Kuwait.

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