Kuwait Retains Its Classification in Anti-Trafficking Report
Kuwait announced it has retained its Tier 2 classification in the 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, with increased efforts in prosecution and the establishment of a specialized unit.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
Kuwait’s Undersecretary of Justice, Awatif Abdul Latif Al-Sand, deputy chair of the National Standing Committee to Combat Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling, announced that Kuwait maintained its Tier 2 ranking for the second consecutive year in the U.S. Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, which acknowledged the country’s increased efforts to combat human trafficking. The Public Prosecution stated that retaining the Tier 2 designation for a second year reflects the state’s enhanced efforts compared to previous periods, placing criminal prosecution at the forefront. It noted that the prosecution initiated criminal proceedings against 64 defendants accused of human trafficking offenses, charging them under the provisions of the Law on Combating Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling, and pursued related crimes such as money laundering and forgery of official and bank documents connected to the primary offenses. Furthermore, trafficking cases under investigation rose from three to eleven during the reporting period, and convictions were secured against defendants charged with human trafficking. The Public Prosecution also revealed that the Attorney General established a specialized unit to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling during the reporting period, entrusting it with monitoring the implementation of the national referral mechanism, standardizing procedures for identifying and protecting victims, developing investigative techniques, building a comprehensive database on these crimes, and providing technical guidance to public prosecutors and law enforcement agencies.
