A/HRC/44/17 Introduction 1. The Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review, established in accordance with Human Rights Council resolution 5/1, held its thirty-fifth session from 20 to 31 January 2020. The review of Kuwait was held at the 15th meeting, on 29 January 2020. The delegation of Kuwait was headed by the Minister of Finance, Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Mariam Alaqeel. At its 17th meeting, held on 31 January 2020, the Working Group adopted the report on Kuwait. 2. On 14 January 2020, the Human Rights Council selected the following group of rapporteurs (troika) to facilitate the review of Kuwait: Bulgaria, Namibia and Philippines. 3. In accordance with paragraph 15 of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1 and paragraph 5 of the annex to Council resolution 16/21, the following documents were issued for the review of Kuwait: (a) A national report submitted/written presentation made in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) (A/HRC/WG.6/35/KWT/1); (b) A compilation prepared by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in accordance with paragraph 15 (b) (A/HRC/WG.6/35/KWT/2); (c) A summary prepared by OHCHR in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) (A/HRC/WG.6/35/KWT/3). 4. A list of questions prepared in advance by Portugal, on behalf of the Group of Friends on national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up, Belgium, Germany, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America was transmitted to Kuwait through the troika. These questions are available on the website of the universal periodic review. I. Summary of the proceedings of the review process A. Presentation by the State under review 5. The Minister of Finance and Acting Minister of State for Economic Affairs opened the statement of Kuwait by expressing gratitude for the Human Rights Council, OHCHR and members of the troika, among others. 6. The delegation stated that the efforts made by Kuwait in the field of various human rights had contributed to improving its ranking in the global prosperity index, from 80th in 2017 to 66th out of 149 countries in 2018. 7. The Minister explained that in order to respect its international obligations, Kuwait had established a permanent national committee under the guise of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responsible for the preparation of reports and follow-up to recommendations relating to human rights. Furthermore, Kuwait had received visits from a number of special procedures mandate holders. 8. The Minister mentioned the visit of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, at the invitation of the Government, in February 2017. 9. The delegation highlighted the progress made by Kuwait in the field of human rights, including the development of the national development plan that set targets for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and the establishment of a political incubator at Kuwait University to promote the participation of Kuwaiti women in the political field. 10. The delegation shed light on the issuance of Law No. 8 of 2010 on the rights of persons with disabilities and the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2013. Kuwait had established the Public Authority for Persons with Disabilities to be the governmental coordination authority on disability supervising the 2