Trafficking in persons: UN human rights expert launches first official visit to Kuwait

Arabic

GENEVA (31 August 2016) – United Nations Special Rapporteur Maria Grazia Giammarinaro will carry out her first official visit to Kuwait from 4 to 8 September 2016 to assess the situation of trafficking of persons in the country, especially that of women and children, as well as men.

“During my five days visit, I look forward to assessing the progress made by Kuwait, as well as the challenges the country faces in addressing trafficking in human beings,” said the independent expert mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to promote the prevention of trafficking in persons in all its forms, and to encourage measures to uphold and protect the human rights of victims.

Ms. Giammarinaro, who is visiting the country at the invitation of the Government, will meet representatives of various Government agencies, as well as members of civil society organizations working to fight against trafficking in persons.

“I wish to reach out to trafficked persons themselves, so that their voices are heard and can be considered in the Government’s responses to combatting human trafficking,” she added.
 
The expert will share with the media her preliminary observations at a press conference on Thursday 8 September 2016 at 1:00 pm, at the UN House in Mishref, Diplomatic Square, Block 7, Kuwait city. Access to the press conference is strictly limited to journalists.

Findings from the country visit and recommendations will be included in the Special Rapporteur’s official report to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in June 2016.

ENDS

Ms. Maria Grazia Giammarinaro (Italy) was appointed as Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, especially women and children by the UN Human Rights Council in June 2014, to promote the prevention of trafficking in persons in all its forms, and to encourage measures to uphold and protect the human rights of victims. Ms. Giammarinaro has been a Judge since 1991. She served as a Pre-Trial Judge at the Criminal Court of Rome, and currently serves as a Judge in the Civil Court of Rome. She was the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings of the OSCE, and served in the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Justice, Freedom and Security in Brussels, where she was responsible for combating human trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. She drafted the EU Directive on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims. Learn more, log on to: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Trafficking/Pages/TraffickingIndex.aspx

The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.

UN Human Rights, Country Page – Kuwait: http://ohchr.org/EN/Countries/MENARegion/Pages/KWIndex.aspx

For more information and media requests, please contact Selma Vadala
During the visit: +41 79 109 6875 / svadala@ohchr.org
Before and after the visit: +41 22 917 9108 / svadala@ohchr.org or write to srtrafficking@ohchr.org)

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