(iii) Take all necessary steps to guarantee the competence, independence and impartiality
of the judiciary in Kuwait and ensure that the Kuwaiti judiciary acts with full
conformity to international human rights standards;
(iv) Ensure particularly that the courts may not be used for political reasons nor to
sanction the legitimate exercise of rights and freedoms universally guaranteed;
(v) Strengthen the rights of the accused including by ensuring that she is guaranteed a fair
trial, including by allowing her to effectively challenge the evidence against her;
(vi) Guarantee, under all circumstances, the right to be presumed innocent;
(vii) Take all necessary measures to end all forms of harassment against all Kuwaiti
human rights defenders, to enable them to carry out their legitimate human rights
activities freely and without hindrance;
(viii) Comply at all times with the provisions of the Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders, adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on 9 December
1998, in particular:
Article 1 which states that “everyone has the right, individually and in association
with others, to promote and strive for the protection and realization of human rights
and fundamental freedoms” at the national and international levels,
Article 5, which states that “For the purpose of promoting and protecting human
rights and fundamental freedoms, everyone has the right, individually and in
association with others, at the national and international levels: (b) to form, join, and
participate in non-governmental organizations; [...]”
Article 12.2, which states that the State should take all necessary steps “to ensure the
protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association
with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse
discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of their
legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in this Declaration.”
(ix) Comply in all circumstances with the international obligations of Kuwait regarding the
protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
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