Kuwait maintains 'Category 2' status in combating human trafficking

Public Prosecution:

- Initiation of criminal proceedings against 64 defendants accused of human trafficking offenses

- Increase in trafficking cases from 3 to 11, with convictions handed down against defendants

- The Attorney General established a specialized unit to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling

- Prosecution members received training on the proper legal characterization of trafficking cases

Kuwait has strengthened its efforts to combat human trafficking, marked by a clear escalation in the pace of judicial prosecutions, an expansion of investigative tools, and enhanced victim protection measures. These efforts contributed to the country retaining its Tier 2 ranking in the U.S. Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report for the second consecutive year.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Public Prosecution noted that Kuwait maintained its Tier 2 status for the second year running, according to the U.S. Department of State’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report, released on October 8. The report based this classification on the state’s increased efforts compared to previous periods, placing judicial prosecution at the forefront.

The statement added that the Public Prosecution initiated criminal proceedings against 64 defendants accused of human trafficking offenses, charging them under the provisions of Law No. 91 of 2013 concerning the Combat of Human Trafficking and Smuggling of Migrants. The prosecution also pursued related crimes connected to the primary offense, including money laundering and forgery of official and bank documents. During the reporting period, the number of trafficking cases under investigation rose from 3 to 11, and convictions were handed down against defendants for the crime of human trafficking.

During the reporting period, the Attorney General established a specialized unit to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling. This unit was tasked with monitoring the implementation of the national referral mechanism, standardizing procedures for identifying and protecting victims, developing investigative methods, building a comprehensive database for these crimes, and providing technical guidance to Public Prosecution members and law enforcement agencies. Prosecution members received training on the proper legal characterization of trafficking cases, and a service for reporting these crimes was made available on the Public Prosecution’s website.