Speaking at the Human Rights Council Eighth Universal Periodic Review, which kicked off here on May 3 and will continue through to May 14, the minister, who heads the country’s delegation to the meeting, said that spreading the "culture" of human rights was not limited to media policies, but extended to basic education and college curricula, as well as military and security institutions.
Al-Afasi noted that despite the damage incurred to the State’s institutions during the 1990 Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, the country was able to overcome difficulties and reinstate economic, security, social, and psychological stability for all those residing in Kuwait, "and awareness grew over the need to develop mechanisms for the protection of human rights and boosting liberties.
Al-Afasi stated that his country was attractive for foreign manpower of different nationalities and religions, and those monitoring human rights would have to take a closer look at Kuwait to understand its democratic practice and its great ability to manage and protect the rights of people living on its territory.
The continued flow of manpower to Kuwait is proof that it is an institutional state where law prevails and where people’s rights are respected, with no discrimination, he said. He added that human rights and basic freedoms were stipulated in the Kuwaiti Constitution of 1962. "The State’s efforts to further boost human rights are constant," he said, noting that national legislation was periodically reviewed to uphold human rights principles and values.
Laws that ensure rights include the Kuwaiti women’s attainment of their political rights introduced in 2005, he said, as well as the private sector employment law passed in February 2010, which guaranteed the rights of the labor force working in private institutions, including minimum wage and the rights to change jobs without prior consent from the previous employer.
Al-Afasi noted that domestic workers did not fall under the private sector law, and their needs were met through the law passed earlier this year to regulate the working relationship between the employer and the employee, and stipulating working hours, rest periods, and salaries.
Moreover, he said that shelters had been set up for domestic workers who faced problems with their employers, which he said was a move lauded by international human rights delegations that visited Kuwait from time to time. The minister also highlighted the recently passed law for the right of people with special needs, which replaced the previous law of 1996. The law includes non-Kuwaitis and stateless people.
Furthermore, Al-Afasi said that there were many human rights-related draft bills awaiting the approval of the parliament, including one for combating human trafficking, as well as the rights of children and their protection against violence. He also said that the recently approved five-year State development plan, ending 2014, included plans that covered aspects of social security, health, education, economy, judicial affairs and the environment.
The minister also highlighted Kuwait’s efforts to assist developing countries through Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED), alongside the Gulf state’s annual contributions to international organizations, and its donations to countries struck by natural disasters and wars. However, Al-Afasi said that despite the many achievements made by Kuwait in the field of human rights, it continued to face a challenge with the issue of stateless people residing in the country (Bedoun). He stressed, however, that the residency law of the State could not be violated and had to be respected by all those living in the country.
