Equidem Joins Coalition Calling for Scrutiny of Kuwait’s Migrant Worker Rights Record Ahead of UN Human Rights Council Elections
As the United Nations General Assembly prepares to elect members to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2027–2029 term on 13 October, Equidem joins fellow members of the Coalition on Labour Justice for Migrants in the Gulf in calling for greater scrutiny of Kuwait’s record on migrant workers’ rights.
Kuwait is one of four candidates contesting four seats allocated to the Asia-Pacific region. With no competition for these seats, the election raises important questions about the extent to which candidates’ human rights records are meaningfully scrutinised before they assume responsibility for promoting and protecting human rights internationally.
Membership of the UN Human Rights Council carries a responsibility to uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights. This must include respect for fundamental labour rights and international labour standards, particularly for migrant workers who face heightened risks of exploitation and abuse.
Yet serious concerns persist regarding the treatment of migrant workers in Kuwait. The continued operation of the kafala sponsorship system, restrictions on workers’ rights and freedoms, discriminatory employment practices, and gaps in legal protections, particularly for domestic workers, raise important questions about Kuwait’s compliance with international human rights and labour standards.
In August 2026, the Coalition submitted evidence to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination documenting systemic discrimination against migrant workers in Kuwait, including nationality-based wage discrimination, abusive recruitment practices, restrictions on freedom of movement, and indicators of forced labour.
Election to the Human Rights Council should be conditional on a country’s demonstrated commitment to upholding international human rights and labour standards, including meaningful accountability for violations. Anything less risks undermining the credibility of the very institution tasked with protecting these rights.
As a member of the Coalition on Labour Justice for Migrants in the Gulf, Equidem joins fellow civil society organisations in calling for these standards to be meaningfully applied, and for migrant workers’ rights to be central to the scrutiny of countries seeking membership of the Council.
