NEW YORK: The State of Kuwait has affirmed that human trafficking is a crime against human dignity not merely a violation of a law. Mariam Mansouri, a diplomatic attaché of the Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations, made this statement during a special session of the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee on the promotion and protection of human rights.
The Kuwaiti diplomat thanked the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights, particularly those of women and children, for her valuable report and her dedicated efforts to highlight the plight of thousands of victims worldwide. She expressed regret that many women have been deprived of their right to safety and that many children have been thrown into a cycle of exploitation because of this crime.
Mansouri recalled that the UN Human Rights Council resolutions affirm that combating crimes against persons is a collective responsibility requiring robust international cooperation based on the principles of prevention, protection, and accountability.” The State of Kuwait believes that this crime can only be eradicated through a vigilant human conscience that prioritizes human life and dignity above all else,” she added.
She emphasized that the State of Kuwait, based on its unwavering commitment to protecting human rights, has taken a series of measures to strengthen the national framework for combating human trafficking. “These measures include the enacting Law No. 91 of 2013 on Combating Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants; establishing the National Committee for Combating Trafficking in Persons and Smuggling of Migrants; and providing shelters and psychological, social, and legal support services for victims,” she disclosed.
She noted that the State of Kuwait has also launched training and capacity-building programs in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, under the supervision of the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
This ensures that national efforts are consistent with relevant international obligations,” she asserted.Mansouri indicated that this year, Kuwait’s efforts have garnered well-deserved international recognition, as the US State Department’s 2025 Trafficking in Persons Report upgraded its classification to Tier 2.”
This reflects tangible progress in legislative reforms, strengthening the victim protection system, and implementing the National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in Persons,” said the Kuwaiti diplomat. She stressed that human trafficking is not merely a legal issue, but a test of the shared humanity.” When a woman is exploited or a child is enslaved, the world’s silence becomes complicity in the crime.” From this perspective, Kuwait reaffirms its unwavering commitment to working with the international community to achieve a world where human beings are protected from exploitation and where dignity is safeguarded as much as borders are,” she concluded. — KUNA
