Al-Sameet to Al-Jarida: Human Rights amendments include freedoms stipulated in the Constitution
Justice Minister and Advisor Nasser Al-Sameet confirmed that the most prominent amendments to the National Authority for Human Rights Law aim to enhance and develop the Authority’s performance to align with international standards, as well as to expand its mandate to cover all rights and freedoms stipulated in the Constitution and international conventions ratified by Kuwait.
Al-Sameet told Al-Jarida yesterday that the amendments strengthen the Authority’s administrative and financial independence, ensuring its neutrality and effectiveness in monitoring, protecting, and promoting human rights conditions. He noted that the amendments include reshaping its board of directors to comprise five full-time members of competence and integrity, thereby contributing to improved performance quality and faster decision-making.
He clarified that the amendments also expand the consultative representation by adding representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Civil Service Bureau, and the Public Authority for Manpower, to support institutional coordination in the field of human rights. Furthermore, they enhance legal protection for members of the Authority’s board of directors and its staff by shielding them from accountability for actions carried out within the scope of their duties, in accordance with the requirements of their official responsibilities. Additionally, the appointment mechanism has been developed through an Emiri decree issued upon the recommendation of the Justice Minister, with membership conditions reorganized to ensure greater flexibility.
He pointed out that the amendments introduced a binding procedural mechanism for cooperation with the Authority, ensuring a swift response from government entities to its requests, along with stipulating escalating measures in cases of refusal or delay. The amendments also reorganized the work of the board of directors and its standing committees, restructured the committees, created the position of deputy chair for each committee, and established a complaints and appeals committee.
He affirmed that the amendments strengthened the Authority’s financial independence by granting it the authority to prepare its budget draft, and by regulating a mechanism to resolve any disputes with the Ministry of Finance by referring them directly to the Council of Ministers, thereby providing an additional guarantee of its financial independence.
Al-Sameet emphasized that the amendments underscore Kuwait’s commitment to continuing the development of the Authority, enhancing its conformity with the Paris Principles, and consolidating the necessary legal and institutional guarantees to enable it to perform its functions efficiently and independently.
