Kuwait: Chance for Civil Society to Raise Human Rights Violations during Committee Review

Civil society has the opportunity to provide information on the human rights situation in Kuwait when the country is examined by the United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRCttee) in October 2011. The Committee will review whether Kuwait is respecting the civil and political rights of its citizens.

This review is part of Kuwait's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and generally takes place every four years, although Kuwait was overdue for a review as it was late in presenting a report for a number of years. There are ample opportunities for NGOs and other civil society organizations to provide information to the Committee on the application of the Convention in Kuwait, which are described below.

The Covenant (click here for text of convention) is an international treaty which aims to combat violations to civil and political rights, such as the right to life and the freedom of opinion and expression. States which adopt this treaty have to ensure they respect their citizens' and residents' civil and political rights as contained in the treaty. All countries undergo a review by the Committee, generally every four years, to make sure that the obligations they have has undertaken are being put into practice.

In view of the review, countries prepare a national report on how implementation of the Covenant is going on the ground. Once this is handed in to the Committee Secretariat, the Committee prepares a List of Issues on particular questions that they would like more information about. Before this document is prepared, NGOs can submit information and suggest questions to be raised. Alkarama's submission to the Committee List of Issues is available here.

Shortly before the session, NGOs can prepare an alternative report to the state report which summarizes the state of implementation in the country from a civil society perspective. At present, following a successful visit to Kuwait to gather information on the situation of human rights in the country, Alkarama is preparing its report for Kuwait in cooperation with Kuwaiti civil society. It will be presented to the Committee two weeks before the review and will be available from Alkarama's website as well as the website of the Committee when finalized.

During the review itself, which will take place on Thursday 20 October and Friday 21 October 2011 (see here for the timetable), the Committee will undertake a dialogue with representatives of the Kuwaiti authorities on the information contained in their report and the questions in the List of Issues.

In preparation for the dialogue, NGOs which submitted information to the Committee will have the opportunity of speaking to the Rapporteur of the Committee responsible for Kuwait in a closed meeting. Alkarama will be inviting human rights defenders from Kuwait to present information to the Committee, and they will be speaking in this meeting. This closed meeting takes place the day before the review.

During the review itself, the dialogue takes place between the Committee members and the members of the Kuwaiti delegation. NGOs may not intervene, so it is very important to ensure that the opportunity to speak to the Committee in the closed meeting is taken. However, the meeting is public and may be attended by those interested upon request. Alkarama will film the review to share what has been discussed during the review with Kuwaiti civil society.