A/HRC/15/60 play an important role in the political field, including by allowing them to vote and run as candidates in parliamentary elections. Tunisia believed that Kuwait’s endeavour to achieve a balance between the rights of women and family harmony would have a positive effect on the further development of society. 617. Djibouti encouraged Kuwait to continue to accede to international instruments. Djibouti praised Kuwait for the establishment of several funds that had had a positive impact on the situation of human rights in developing countries. Djibouti encouraged Kuwait to continue its efforts to adopt and develop legislation, particularly the bill aimed at combating trafficking in persons. Djibouti also encouraged Kuwait to establish a national human rights institution and to promote the rights of children and women. 3. General comments made by other relevant stakeholders 618. Action internationale pour la paix et le développement dans la region des Grands Lacs welcomed the fact that ratified international treaties have the same binding force as domestic law. It noted, inter alia, that Kuwait had an active and free media, was committed to providing free health services without discrimination and provided international assistance at the rate of more than 0.7 per cent of its GDP. It also noted the measures taken to dismantle illegal networks for the exploitation of foreign workers in cooperation with ILO, and the crucial role played by Kuwait in developing the Arab plan of action for human rights education. 619. Comité international pour le respect et l’application de la Charte Africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples welcomed the concrete measures taken by Kuwait to ensure the effective enjoyment of all human rights, including through the establishment of the Women’s Affairs Commission, the supreme human rights committee. Kuwaiti international assistance in the field of economic and social rights reflected its strong commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and its firm resolve to promote and protect human rights. 620. Verein Sudwind Entwicklungspolitik regretted Kuwait’s rejection of the recommendations to ratify optional protocols to human rights treaties. It welcomed, however, the positive developments in the field of international criminal justice and the rights of stateless persons. It urged Kuwait to consider a moratorium on the death penalty and to reconsider its opposition to ending the death penalty. It expressed concern about the inequality of women in Kuwait, particularly of migrant women domestic workers, and about human trafficking. 621. Human Rights Watch welcomed the Government’s support for recommendations on protecting the labour rights of domestic workers and granting stateless persons permanent residence, which would help to address two of the most pressing human rights concerns in the country. It contested Kuwait’s claim that all persons living within its territory who described themselves as stateless, also known as Bidun, were in fact illegal residents who hid other nationalities. It also noted that the law on the organization of the judiciary prohibited courts from reviewing matters relating to State sovereignty, including individuals’ claims to nationality, effectively barring stateless residents from contesting their legal status in a court of law. It urged Kuwait to grant the Bidun permanent residency status and equal access to civil rights as soon as possible, and to expedite a review of pending claims to nationality. 622. Refugees International noted that the lack of legal status of the Bidun had a negative impact on all areas of life, including identity, family life, residence, health, jobs and political visibility. Bidun children could not obtain a birth certificate because their parents were not issued marriage certificates. They had no access to Government education. Health care offered free of charge to citizens was withheld from the Bidun. Refugees International urged Kuwait to formulate and implement a plan to secure civil and political rights, GE.11-17043 175