Overview of Human Rights in Kuwait

Kuwait is a constitutional hereditary emirate. During the past year, the government has improved its human rights record; however, in some areas problems persist. Police and members of the security forces have reportedly abused and tortured detainees in order to coerce confessions. Security forces are also known to monitor the movement and personal conversations of selected persons in the name of "national security." The government restricts the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, association, religion and movement. The judiciary is subject to executive branch influence. Corruption is widespread in the government and the security forces. Many abuses are committed with impunity. Many human rights abuses committed during the 1990-1991 occupation of the nation by Iraq remain uninvestigated and unpunished. In June 2004, the Chair of the National Assembly’s Human Rights Committed announced that a committee would be formed to prepare a yearly report on human rights successes and failures in Kuwait. In August 2004, the government granted a license to the Kuwait Human Rights Society making it the first official non-governmental human rights organization operational in Kuwait.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

33rd out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.