Kuwait

As a member of the oil rich Gulf Countries, Kuwait is a small, but a relatively rich economy. Its self-sufficiency in oil and natural gas and recent years’ oil price escalation, has proven to be extremely beneficial to Kuwait’s economy. Currently, Kuwait’s oil reserve equals to about 96.5 billion barrels or 10% of the world reserves. The overall health of Kuwait’s economy is therefore extremely dependent on the production of its most important resource –crude oil – which accounts for half of the country’s 50 billion dollar annual GDP.

Agricultural opportunities in Kuwait are very limited due to the region’s harsh desert climate. Except for fish, Kuwait is entirely dependent on the import of foodstuffs. For example, Kuwait must import ¾ of drinking water.

Even though a statistic for the percentage of the population living in poverty has not been made available by any organization, according to the most recent document on food statistics, undernourishment affects about 5% of Kuwait’s population.

Nevertheless, Kuwait’s GDP continues to grow at a healthy 8% rate (2006 figure), placing the country at number 76 among the world economies, and the most recent economic report also shows a healthy unemployment rate of 2%.

Given its stable economic performance, little priority has been given in exploring the negatives sides of Kuwait’s economy, specifically the rate of poverty or hunger.

After a brutal Iraqi occupation, a period in which numerous Kuwaitis were executed, tortured or simply disappeared, the Kuwaiti government announced a plan for improvements in various areas of human rights. The changes implemented since that period have been minimal and infringements on human rights – such as discrimination, unlawful imprisonment and extrajudicial trials - are still prevalent. Currently – as of January 2007 – Kuwait ranks as number 86 when it comes to freedom of democracy and 81 in freedom of the press.

Kuwait’s ethnic composition is far from homogenous – in fact, Kuwaitis make up only half of the population. The rest of the population is made up of various other Arab ethnicities, whose rights have been severely restricted by the government. Known as “Biduns” many of these people have lived in Kuwait for generations, however many have been unable to obtain official Kuwaiti nationality. In order to gain nationality, “Biduns” must go through a very challenging naturalization process. Until then, this group continues to be systematically discriminated against - their right to work, marry and form a family often restricted.

Kuwait also allows very limited citizen participation in the government. Kuwaiti citizens do not have the right to change their government. Further, the emirate government prohibits the formation of political parties. Furthermore, the suffrage practices are also very limited. Until very recently, only adult male citizens over the age of 20 and who are not in the military forces were allowed to vote. In May of 2005 female citizens over the age of 20 were finally extended the right to vote as well.

Even though women have been extended this right, they have been and continue to be discriminated against by the Kuwaiti Islamic state. Various laws and codes infringe on women’s right to marriage and its dissolution as well as the rights to inheritance. Furthermore, women’s protection is also not guaranteed, since Kuwait’s Penal Code often diminishes or even dismisses punishments for men who commit violent crimes against women.

Kuwait contains a distinct “Respect for Human Rights” section in its constitution and the government generally respects these provisions. Nonetheless, there are certain areas in which the government is more lax. For example, even though the constitution prohibits torture or other cruel treatment, detainees and prisoners are nonetheless often subject to verbal and physical abuse by the police and security forces. Furthermore, the constitution states for a freedom of the press and speech. Nevertheless, journalistic freedom of the press on writing about sensitive topics such as religion, morality or national security is often censored and even penalized. This selective style of journalism demonstrates not only a clear infringement on a constitutional right, but also renders the reported information on state activities unreliable.

Taking into consideration that Kuwait is an official Islamic state, in which the reported information is very selective and topics relating to sexual activity or orientation are strictly taboo, collecting accurate and up-to-date information related to HIV/AIDS is quite a challenge.

The most recent figure available indicated that HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among adults was 0.12% The accuracy of this indicator is nevertheless problematic, considering that any current information on the number of people living with HIV/AIDS or on number of deaths stemming from the disease is simply not available. Given the absence of information on HIV/AIDS transmission via the commercial sex industry or homosexual relations between men, the central mode of HIV infection in Kuwait is believed to be the result of an unsafe injecting drug use.

Kuwait currently suffers from a lack of knowledge about the epidemic and its transmission. Preventative HIV measures among the population are seldom practiced, since sexual activity is mainly reserved for heterosexual marriages. Measures such as HIV/AIDS services and even the most basic preventative HIV strategies, such as condom promotion, remain largely absent in Kuwait. Furthermore, current efforts on installing and strengthening HIV/AIDS programs and services in Kuwait are greatly impeded by the stigma and discrimination attached to contracting and living with the virus.

In general, the Kuwaiti population is quite healthy enjoys a high life expectancy – an average of 75 years for both males and females. Kuwait is also clear of diseases such as yellow fever, tetanus, malaria and polio: in fact, the last case of polio in the country was reported in 1985. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) health report, Kuwait is currently free of any dangerous health risks.

The majority of Kuwait’s environmental problems stem from the country’s bountiful crude oil reserves. The large quantities of oil fields proved to be particularly damaging during the 1991 Gulf War. In the process of combat, a vast number of Kuwait’s oil fields were set on fire, dispensing an immense quantity of oil into the surrounding environment, which not only contaminated the air but also threatened Kuwait’s scarce water supply.

Since Kuwait lacks renewable source of potable water, the country must rely on either imports or desalinization of the surrounding sea water. As a result, Kuwait’s desalinization plants have come to be among some of the largest and most advanced in the world.

Kuwait is a country with a very high literacy rate – according to the most recent literacy survey conducted by UNESCO, 94% of the total adult population is literate. The high literacy rate is attributed to a high percentage of children enrolled in primary education. In fact, Kuwait has made long strides in education in a relatively short period of time. In 1991, only half of the country’s children – boys and girls – were enrolled in primary school, whereas in 2004 the average net number stood at 86%.

Kuwait’s favorable economic conditions have favored the development and establishment of education. The education system is also promoted by Kuwait’s government, which dedicates an estimated 17% of its total expenditures to education. Kindergartens for Kuwaiti children between the ages of four and six are free. The Ministry of Education also provides for free-of-charge primary education, which is obligatory for Kuwaitis between the ages of six to fourteen.

Nevertheless, Kuwait’s discriminatory ethnic practices also extend to area of education. As mentioned above, free and compulsory education is strictly reserved for Kuwaitis. This calculated State terminology, in turn, restricts the educational opportunities for children of already-struggling “Biduns” and other ethnic minorities living in Kuwait.

Earthtrust - Earthtrust is an internationally-focused mostly 'virtual' organization which takes on issues deemed 'impossible' by the conventional wisdom. A U.S. nonprofit in good standing for the last 29 years, it has - no joke - probably saved more marine biomass than any other NGO, even if only getting rid of the large driftnet fleets is counted. Its list of incredible victories is too long to list here and is flatly unbelievable unless a person takes the time to do the research. Making pirate whaling nearly impossible by inventing and fielding undercover DNA labs, proving the self-awareness of dolphins, drastically accelerating the shutdown of the Kuwait oil fires, pioneering eco-labeling. Effective, innovative, efficient, low overhead, positive, scientifically credible and tireless.

Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital - Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital (KACCH) is a non-governmental charitable organisation registered with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour in 2003. It was founded informally in 1989 to help children and their families cope with the stresses of hospitalisation. It is managed by volunteers and funded by donations from organizations, businesses, banks, schools and individuals within Kuwait.

Kuwait Dyslexia Association - The mission of Kuwait Dyslexia Association is to provide help, advice and support to individuals with dyslexia and their families within the Kuwaiti and Arab societies in order to overcome difficulties and challenges associated with dyslexia.

Kuwait Red Crescent Society - The Kuwait Red Crescent Society is a voluntary humanitarian society providing help and assistance to the most vulnerable people without any discrimination as to nationality , gender, color, race or religious and political beliefs.

It was established in December 1965 in The State of Kuwait as a voluntary society that enjoys an independent status and has a seperate legal entity while working as a complimentary organization to the official authorities in the country in the humanitarian field. Its scope of work covers all the governorates of Kuwait with the right to open branches in any of them.

The Society was officially declared on 10 January 1966 .It joined the International Union of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in June of 1968.The Society is considered the only organization in Kuwait that represents the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement according to the articles stipulated on in the International Conventions.

ILCO in Kuwait - IICO is an independent non-political organization which offers a wide range of pure humanitarian services. IICO is working worldwide. It provides services for people all over the world regardless of their race, or nationality.

The IICO was established in Kuwait under the law no.64 of 1986, which declared its foundation and stated Kuwait as its headquarters. IICO was founded to meet the increasing urgent needs in poor societies especially in Moslem countries and communities where poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, diseases, famine, and other difficult situations are persisting. IICO is providing help for the needy in social, economical, educational, medical, and cultural fields as well urgent relief aids in case of war, natural, disasters, epidemics, famines, and similar circumstances.

IICO work is purely humanitarian and far away from politics without any racial or ethnic distinction, following the noble examples of charitable work in Islamic history.

International Committee of the Red Cross - The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance.

UNICEF - UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF works with all its partners towards the attainment of the sustainable human development goals adopted by the world community and the realization of the vision of peace and social progress enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.

United Nations Development Programme - The UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. It is on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and its wide range of partners.

As a leading UN organization, UNDP- Kuwait assists the people of Kuwait enlarge choices and meet development challenges, particularly unrealized Millennium Development Goals, through knowledge, experience and resources sharing.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees - The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. The agency is mandated to lead and co-ordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide. Its primary purpose is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees. It strives to ensure that everyone can exercise the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another State, with the option to return home voluntarily, integrate locally or to resettle in a third country.

World Health Organization - The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. It was established on 7 April 1948. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Zakat House - Zakat House was established in 1982 as an an independent governmental authority. Its mission is to collect and develop Zakat resources and charity deeds and spend them inside and outside Kuwait according to Islamic laws with the highest level of efficiency and excellence. Zakat House is chaired by Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs.

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