5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction 6 ABOUT THE BIDOON AND THEIR LEGAL STATUS IN KUWAIT 6 MAIN FINDINGS AND THE ROADMAP FOR CHANGE 7 THE ROADMAP - RECOMMENDATION FOR ENDING STRUCTURAL DISCRIMINATION METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH FORMS OF CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN FOR THIS PROJECT 8 9 10 A Short History of Socio-legal Discrimination and Identity: Difference, Citizenship and Statelessness in Kuwait THE 1959 NATIONALITY LAW: A CASCADING HIERARCHY OF RIGHTS 12 13 THE GRADUAL ‘OTHERING’ OF STATELESS KUWAITIS 14 IMPACT OF THE 1991 WAR AND RECLASSIFICATION OF THE STATELESS COMMUNITY 15 ACTIVIST KHADEIJA AL-SHAMMARI ON THE SITUATION OF BIDOON WOMEN 17 Project Findings: The Emergence of the Pandemic in Kuwait and Initial Responses 18 DOCUMENTATION, LEGAL STATUS AND REGISTRATION 18 LIVELIHOOD AND EMPLOYMENT 20 LIVING CONDITIONS AND LOCKDOWNS 21 RELIEF AND HUMANITARIAN AID 22 REPRISALS, CRIMINALISATION AND DETENTION 23 EDUCATION 24 SCHOOL EDUCATION 24 UNIVERSITY EDUCATION 24 ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE 25 MENTAL HEALTH, SELF-HARM, AND SUICIDE 26 GROWING EVIDENCE OF SELF-HARM AND SUICIDE AMONGST THE STATELESS COMMUNITY VACCINATION ROLL OUT Corollary Findings 26 27 30 Conclusion: ‘Nothing but a Pen and a Word’ Whither the Stateless of Kuwait? ‘TOGETHER WE CAN’ ANNEXES 33 33 37 ANNEX 1: SELECTED CHRONOLOGY, INCLUDING SOCIO-LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS BEFORE AND DURING THE PANDEMIC 37 ANNEX 2: SAMPLE COMMITMENTS THAT COULD BE MADE BY STATES IN RESPECT TO ENDING STATELESSNESS, TAKEN FROM UNHCR’S 2019 HIGH LEVEL SEGMENT ANNEX 3: COMPARATIVE COVID-19 (OVERALL) IMPACT IN GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL STATES, DECEMBER 2020 39 39 ANNEX 4: SALAM DHR’S QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF GOK ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BIDOON COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC IN TERMS OF THEMED UNHCR GUIDANCE ANNEX 5: THE SURVEY USED TO INFORM PART OF THIS PROJECT’S FINDINGS 40 42