THE STATE OF KUWAIT

Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.

  • Population:
    – total: 1,897,000
    – under-18s: 792,000
  • Government armed forces:
    – active: 15,300
    – reserves: 23,700
    – paramilitary: 5,000
  • Compulsory recruitment age: 18
  • Voluntary recruitment age: 18
  • Voting age (government elections): 21
  • Child soldiers: none indicated
  • CRC-OP-CAC: not signed
  • Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC/API+II; ILO 138; ILO 182
  • There are no indications of under-18s in government armed forces.

CONTEXT

Kuwait was invaded by Iraq in 1990. Since the withdrawal of Iraqi forces at the end of the Gulf War in February 1991, Kuwait has hosted a large military presence of Western alliance forces.

GOVERNMENT

National Recruitment Legislation and Practice

Kuwait is the only Gulf Cooperation Council state that has conscription provisions. Article 47 of the Constitution states, "National defence is a sacred duty, and military service is an honour for citizens which shall be regulated by law." According to Article 158 military service is regulated by law.1060 Conscription has existed in Kuwait since 1961. The legal basis of conscription is the 1980 Compulsory Service Act.1061 All men between the age of 18 and 30 are liable for military service, which lasts two years or one year for university graduates.1062 Educational deferments exist, and in practice exemptions are usually granted. In fact, most young Kuwaitis avoid military service, leading to shortages of military personnel.1063 After the Gulf War the Kuwait Government attempted to increase the strength of the armed forces to 30,000, but has so far only succeeded in reaching half that number.1064 The minimum voluntary recruitment age is 18.1065

Since independence, the Bidun of Kuwait (tribal people residing in Kuwait who were unable to prove Kuwaiti citizenship) had formed the backbone of the Kuwaiti army. Before 1991, approximately 90 per cent of the Kuwaiti army was Bidun. After the Iraqi invasion, the Kuwaiti Government in exile dismissed all Bidun soldiers retroactively and only a small proportion were rehired after the government was restored to power. Bidun still live in Kuwait but are not liable for conscription as they are not considered Kuwaiti citizens.1066

1060 www.uni-wuerzburg.de/law/.

1061 UN Commission on Human Rights, Updated Report of the Secretary General prepared pursuant to Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities resolution 1991/34. United Nations, Geneva, E/CN.4/sub.2-/1992/35/add.1.

1062 Report of Secretary General, UN doc. E/CN.4/1997/99 op. cit.

1063 Helen Chapin Metz op. cit.

1064 Ibid.

1065 Brett and McCallin op. cit.

1066 The Bedoons of Kuwait: Citizens without Citizenship (New York, 1995), HRW; Promises Betrayed: Denial of the Rights of Bidun, Women and Freedom of Expression, HRW.

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